South Tipperary Hospice introduces new music therapy service to enrich quality of life

Enriching the quality of the lives of a person with a serious illness and their loved ones is the aim of an innovative new service being introduced by South Tipperary Hospice.

The Hospice, whose offices are in Clonmel, is in the process of introducing a range of new services in addition to the services they have delivered for decades. It is now offering a music therapy service which they are hoping will be availed of by the people of south Tipperary.

There is a great desire among the volunteers involved with the South Tipperary Hospice to add new services that will bring a meaningful and practical benefit to people who encounter serious life-limiting illnesses.

A number of people are already enjoying the new music therapy service and it is being delivered by a Clonmel man who has a powerful belief in the potential of music therapy to enhance people's lives.
Joe Roche is passionate about helping people discover how connecting with music can be beneficial for them in so many ways.
He is at pains to stress that people who avail of music therapy through South Tipperary Hospice do not need to have a background in music.

“Basically music therapy uses music and music-based activity to meet non-musical goals,” said Joe.
Joe, a former Clonmel High School student who worked as a professional tenor in Wales, said music therapy can open up so many positive emotions for the person receiving the service and can also open up communication with family members.
“The music is a bridge to making the person facing serious illness feel good about themselves, feel good about what they have done during their lifetime, and help them stay positive during a challenging time in their lives,” said Joe Roche.
The music therapy sessions are given at a pace to suit the person involved and will go in the direction that allows the person to get the best out of the sessions.

“The service is focussed on improving the quality of life of people.It is important for me to build a level of trust, comfort, and confidentiality with the person and create an environment for it to work for that person,” said Joe.
“ We all have big moments in our lives that can be linked to a special song or a piece of music. These pieces of music are very personal and can trigger emotions, they can transport people back to a happy time in their lives. Hearing songs they danced to as a teenager could bring so much joy to their life in this difficult moment.

So too could the music they associate with meeting the person they went on to spend the rest of their lives with, their wedding day, the birth of a son or a daughter, or a memorable holiday,” said Joe Roche.

“There is a sense of musical autobiography about it, it gives people the tools and opportunity to review their lives in a positive way. The music linked to a special moment in their lives will help them remember events, enable them to reminisce and tell stories and speak about moments that were very special to them,” he said.
Joe said such interaction would allow the person to remember milestone moments in their lives, would allow the person to think about the meaning of their life and their achievements, and even in some cases allow them to reflect on and speak about regrets they might have.

“Something from the past could be troubling them and they might welcome a chance to discuss it and all of that can be processed as well if the person is comfortable to do it as it may bring them peace with their thoughts. It brings a release for people, a catharsis about something that could have been bothering them for some time,” he said.

The sessions can also be opened up to other members of the family if the person availing of the service wants to do that.
“When families are going through a challenging time sometimes the right words can be difficult to come by.
The use of music can help existing relationships with loved ones and create an environment that allows people to express how they feel. Music can help them find a way of saying something they might want to say,” said Joe.
Joe strongly believes that engaging in such activity can greatly benefit people facing a serious life-limiting illness.

“Music therapy is about improving quality of life, hopefully bringing support and relief from chronic pain, depression, and release of pent-up emotion. People are trying to figure out how to talk and music can help them find a way and hopefully will lead to inner peace, contentment, and relief,” said Joe.

If people facing serious life-limiting illness feel the music therapy would suit them they could say it to the palliative care nurses or their GP or give Hospice staff Terry or Jennie a call at the South Tipperary Hospice office on The Quay in Clonmel (052 6127721)

Sean O’Donovan, Chairman of South Tipperary Hospice said they were delighted to introduce the music therapy as an addition to the broad range of services already being delivered.
He said it was about offering people practical support in a meaningful way in their lives and he hoped the music therapy would bring some happiness and joy to people facing serious life-limiting illness and their families. The Hospice chairman said the Hospice would be rolling out more new services during the year in addition to the volunteer drivers service, providing care assistants, offering professional counselling and bereavement service and complimentary therapies. STHM is providing financial assistance to two level two palliative care projects in Tipperary Town and Clonmel. A unit in Cluain Aran in Tipperary with two level two palliative care beds is being upgraded and STHM is providing financial support and backing for the project. The group is also providing financial support for the provision of three-level two palliative care beds at St Anthony’s in Clonmel.