Amazing Grace

Jennifer is another patient on hospice service with advanced dementia. She lives at a care facility because it had become too difficult for her family to care for her at home. In the facility, she is often agitated and calls out constantly. On one particular visit, I could hear her calling out before I rounded the corner. When I greeted her, she smiled at me, but then continued her perseverative speech. As I sang with her, I saw her feet moving to the beat of the music, even as she would alternately smile at me, then frown and call out. I was using upbeat music to meet her mood at the start of the session, but then transitioned to quieter music to help her calm down. I began singing “Amazing Grace.” Jennifer immediately looked up at me and locked eyes. She did not call out at all, and after a few verses, she closed her eyes and went to sleep. Her face relaxed, her body un-tensed, and her voice stilled. She needed the right song to tell her brain to rest, and “Amazing Grace” was just the song. I always tell me patients if they get sleepy during a session to feel free to rest. My feelings are never hurt; in fact, I feel privileged to be able to instill enough comfort and peace in anyone that they are able to sleep in my presence!

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