Hospice patient and others sing the praises of music therapy

By:Alicia Doyle, Special to Ventura County Star

When Geneva Fergusson was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, she was told she had three to six months to live.

That was three years ago. 

“I started to proceed to do things you’re going to do if you’re going to leave in a few months, but I didn’t have to do that,” said Fergusson, 95, who lives in Camarillo with her husband of 75 years, Fergie.

After her diagnosis, she was assigned an interdisciplinary team through the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, which, in part, provides end-of-life care services in patients’ homes.

Part of that team is Lori Sunshine, of Ventura, a board certified music therapist who visits the couple at least twice a month and brings a variety of instruments for hour-long jam sessions.

“I’m sure this has helped, and there are a lot of other factors to consider also, but that’s one of them,” Geneva Fergusson said of her longevity.

“All music changes your life for the better,” Fergie Fergusson said. “If you let music come into your life, you’ll be a better person.”

During a recent visit, Sunshine brought a variety of instruments, including a harp, a reverie harp, a kalimba, five Tibetan bowls, and handmade Tibetan bells from a monastery in Tibet. She began on the harp by playing and singing the song, “Amazing Grace,” while Fergie Fergusson played the reverie harp and sang along.   Sunshine also played “Lo Yisa Goy” from Israel, which she sang in Hebrew.

Like on many previous visits, Geneva Fergusson sat peacefully on the couch, taking it all in.

“This is specifically for end-of-life care,” said Sunshine, 57, whose music therapy training degree involved 1,200 hours of on-site internship and a board certification test. 

“Hospice is comfort care to help make a person live their life to their fullest at the end of life,” said Lori Harasta, a community relations consultant with Livingston. 

Music therapy, as part of this comfort care, “enhances the soul,” Harasta said. “It just brings people alive. It really goes deep into the psyche and brings up happy memories.”

According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is a health profession in which music is used to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Research supports its effectiveness in areas that include physical rehabilitation, facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment. It can also provide emotional support for clients and their families, and create an outlet for expression. 

Music therapy began in this century as a profession after World War II, when wounded soldiers returned from the war, Sunshine said. 

“It was music that predominantly helped to heal, bring solace … and purpose back into the lives of the veterans,” said Sunshine, a board-certified music therapist since 1983.

Sunshine currently works part-time with Livingston Memorial hospice, and also does private work in hospital and nursing home settings. She also enjoys working with children in groups in Ojai and Goleta. 

“I use all aspects of the musical tools … piano, guitar, voice, harp, sounding bells and percussion instruments … to promote peace, hope and connection,” Sunshine said. 

Music has the means to touch all four quadrants of the brain, and is considered the most effective intervention for brain health and neuron activation, which has been scientifically researched and documented, Sunshine said. 

Many times, she has seen older adults with various forms of dementia or memory deficiency who cannot speak sing the words to familiar songs, verse after verse. She has witnessed patients in hospice respond to vibrations from instruments with smiles, a hand squeeze, or words that are meaningful for their loved ones. 

“The music connects and touches the whole body with its vibrations through the back door to the brain unlike any other therapy, and has amazing results,” Sunshine said. 

“My life is very exciting and rewarding working as a music therapist,” she added. 

“Drumming, singing, playing all kinds of instruments, music listening — even writing songs with lyrics that are relevant to the patients — are all ways that a music therapist can utilize music as a powerful source for healing.”

Source: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2018/04/26/music-therapy-hospice-patient-others-sing-praises/480046002/