General Guidance
Serving a Patient Whose Religion is Unfamiliar to the Music Therapist:
Even if you are familiar with a patient’s religion, remember there are additional factors such as region, various sects/denominations, etc.
· Communicate with family members and/or religious leader for guidance on the role of music as it pertains to patient’s beliefs (music preferences, resources to find the music, etc.)
· Observe the patient’s surroundings during visits (religious books on the shelf, scriptures or religious sayings, statues of religious leaders, hymnals, etc.)
· If the patient is verbal, simply ask the patient of their preferences
· As a patient’s belief or musical taste may not be the same as the family; when implementing suggestions provided by the family, observe the patient’s non-verbal cues (furrowed eyes brows, bright affect, tension, etc.)
· Explore the site for music suggestions and resources!
For more information on music therapy in hospice: