When the Music Plays, Grace Wakes Up

For Grace, music has a way of reaching her.

Grace has been receiving services from Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care since February 2023, including nursing care, supplies, and support from the Integrative Therapies team. For more than three years, her care has been supported by a team focused not only on her medical needs, but also on the things that bring her comfort and joy.

One of those things is music.

Whenever her music therapist Julia visits, Grace responds. In fact, her daughters, Patti and Margie, say they can count on it every time.

“Every single time Julia comes, Mom wakes up and sings along,” they shared.

It doesn’t matter what time of day Julia arrives. As soon as Grace hears the music, she becomes engaged and joins in. She may not sing every word or every note, but that isn’t what matters. What matters is the response, the recognition, the participation, and the joy of being part of the moment.

For Grace, Julia’s visits have become a meaningful part of her care.

That connection is at the heart of Lightways’ Integrative Therapies program. Music therapy offers another way for our team to connect with patients, using music to encourage engagement, expression, and moments of comfort. For patients and families, these visits can become something they look forward to and remember.

Grace’s daughters are an important part of her care, too. Patti and Margie know their mom well and are always encouraging her to participate and try new things. Their involvement, along with the support of Julia and the rest of Grace’s care team, helps create a compassionate circle of care around her.

It is moments like these that demonstrate what makes an integrated hospice team so special. Every member brings a different skill and perspective, working together to care for the whole person, not just a diagnosis.

For Grace, sometimes that connection starts with a song.

Julia plays.

Grace wakes up.