Among the many resources available to patients at the Palliative Care unit is Music Therapy. Rinaldo, the music therapist, showed us around for a day and the experience was heartwarming.
Rinaldo and I dressed up at the Palliative unit’s Festa Junina (June Party)
Door to door
On an average day, Rinaldo mainly spends his time playing music for patients in their rooms. He goes door to door with his guitar and book full of classic Brazilian songs and old-school Sertanejo, a popular country-like music style. During a session, Rinaldo chats with the patient and their families about the music they enjoy and selects 4-5 songs to play for them.
From our interactions, we saw that the music was very therapeutic for the patients, no matter their condition. Some patients would simply close their eyes while others would sing along. It was touching to see how Rinaldo’s music provided a respite from their daily struggles.
The healing bed
In Rinaldo’s small studio, there’s an interesting instrument called a harp bed. Before meeting Rinaldo, I had never seen nor heard of such an instrument. The harp bed was brought to the hospital from Germany and is used as therapy for both the patients and their families. In fact, since patients at the Palliative unit tend to be too weak to lie on the bed, the instrument is generally used by the patient’s families. This is a great example of how the hospital provides humanized care by supporting its patients and caring for the well-being of the families as well.
During a session with the harp bed, a patient lays on the instrument while Rinaldo plucks the strings underneath. A normal session lasts 15-20 minutes and at its conclusion, Rinaldo plays 7 chimes that fill the room with a lovely harmony. Shravya and I were lucky enough to experience a short session. It was a very calming experience and I am sure it’s very soothing for its daily users.
According to Rinaldo, the harp bed has many benefits. It’s used to treat conditions such as depression and hyperactivity and is also known to remove pain. Additionally, the instrument helps family members relax and alleviate some of their anxiety, stress, and tension.
Other tasks
Rinaldo’s involvement with the hospital doesn’t just end when he leaves a patient’s room or finishes a therapy session with the harp bed. Behind the scenes, he’s just as active as doctors or nurses.
At the Palliative unit, it is common for doctors, nurses, and professionals such as nutritionists and physical therapist to meet weekly and discuss patient cases. These meetings are arranged for reasons such as planning a patient’s discharge or reviewing difficult cases. Rinaldo is often present at these meetings and his input is valuable for assessing the emotional state of the patient.
Rinaldo also participates in hospital projects that aim to educate patients and their families about health. For example, he recently worked on a music video parody teaching people how to properly wash their hands. I think it’s incredible seeing the various ways that music therapy is incorporated in the hospital and the impact that it has on patient’s lives.