Music therapy preloss care though legacy creation

Abstract

Positive treatment of patients and families during the patients' advanced illnesses can enhance the families' bereavement. There is little focus on how music therapy with dying patients and their families before the patients' deaths can help the families when bereaved. Two studies examining reflections about music therapy, expressed by carers of children and adults who received music therapy at the end-of-life, indicated that session memories and patients' song compositions brought the bereaved carers comfort. It is suggested that music therapists consider preloss care as an aim when working in palliative care. This article provides a definition, description and critique of preloss care in music therapy. Preloss care can be defined as the intentional creation of opportunities with patients with life-threatening conditions and/or their families (or close friends) that may enable the mourners' improved bereavement experiences if the patient dies. In palliative care, music therapists provide preloss care through helping patients to create legacies. Legacies encompass tangible products and memories which validate a life. A music therapist's preloss care work is illustrated. It includes family work and song writing with a child and adults. The value of preloss care is considered through the lens of bereavement theory. After a patient dies, their music therapy legacies may assist grieving people through being a connection with the deceased. Further research into preloss care's effects on the bereaved is warranted, especially when patients make legacies for relatives with whom they have strained relationships.