Ann Arbor, MI, February 4, 2021 — ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Feb. 4, 2020) – Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice, members of the NorthStar Care Community, will host virtual music therapy grief support sessions for children and adults who are coping with grief after experiencing the death of a loved one.
The groups will meet via Zoom on Saturday, Feb. 20 beginning at 11 a.m. with “Mini Music Arts Camp for Kids: Coping with Grief and Loss.” Music supplies in the form of egg shakers will be delivered to all children who sign up for the event. A second virtual session, “Resilience: Exploring Grief and Loss through Music for Adults,” will begin at noon and focus on adults going through the grieving process. Both events are free of charge and will feature Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice’s specially trained music therapists – allowing individuals who are not under hospice care to experience how music therapists use the profound power of music to comfort their patients.
The benefits of music therapy are widely recognized in the healthcare field as having both immediate and long-term effects in addressing the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals of all ages. With the universal power to affect emotions, the right kind of music can enhance relaxation to ease pain and anxiety – bringing comfort to patients physically, emotionally and spiritually to help in ways that other forms of treatment or therapy cannot.
“Research has shown the effectiveness of music therapy even in patients who are resistant to other treatment approaches,” said Rachael Lawrence-Lupton, MA, MT-BC and music therapy supervisor for NorthStar Care Community. “Our music therapists engage patients with music in ways best suited for their needs and preferences, allowing them to feel heard and validated. The music brings them back to themselves and opens them up to connection with others.”
Individuals who wish to participate in either music therapy grief support session must RSVP by Friday, Feb. 12 to Lawrence-Lupton at (734) 846-7638 or rlawrence-lupton@arborhospice.org. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
The sessions are accessible to anyone across the state, regardless of whether their loved one was under Hospice of Michigan or Arbor Hospice’s care. For more information about Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice’s music therapy programs, please visit www.hom.org/music-therapy or www.arborhospice.org/our-care-services/therapies/music-therapy.
About NorthStar Care Community
NorthStar Care Community (NSCC) was created to preserve and promote the mission of nonprofit hospice and palliative care – to deliver expert, compassionate care to patients of any age, no matter their diagnoses, complexity of care, place of residence or ability to pay. NorthStar Care Community was formed in 2017 by two legacy nonprofit hospice agencies – Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice – and also includes NorthStar Palliative Care, the NorthStar Institute and Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children. As members of the NSCC family, the organizations combine operational resources in order to maximize support at each patient’s bedside, delivering the highest standards of care to those who are seriously ill. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve nearly 6,500 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information about NorthStar Care Community, visit www.northstarcarecommunity.org.
About Arbor Hospice
Arbor Hospice, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, provides quality, compassionate care for those experiencing life-limiting illnesses throughout Washtenaw County and surrounding communities. A founding member of the NorthStar Care Community, Arbor offers certified community-based and inpatient hospice services and palliative care through NorthStar Palliative Care, as well as grief support services and community education programs. Through other NorthStar Care Community members, Arbor also provides pediatric hospice care and compassionate support services through Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through the NorthStar Institute. The NorthStar Care Community also includes Hospice of Michigan. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve nearly 5,100 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information, visit www.arborhospice.org or call 888-992-2273.