Hospice 101: An Introduction to Hospice Music Therapy (3 credits)

with Faith Halverson-Ramos LPC, MT-BC

Interested in hospice music therapy but unsure what you need to know before stepping into this specialized area of practice?

Working in hospice requires more than knowing how to use music at the end of life. Music therapists also need to understand how hospice care works, how music therapy fits within the interdisciplinary team, what makes an appropriate referral, and how to document their work effectively.

Hospice 101 gives you a practical introduction to providing music therapy within hospice care in the United States. You’ll explore how hospice services are structured, funded, and regulated, while developing a clearer understanding of the music therapist’s role within this unique model of care.

Through case studies and practical exercises, you’ll learn how to identify appropriate music therapy referrals and practice writing DAROP notes that provide meaningful supporting documentation. You’ll even create a referral resource that can be shared with other members of a hospice team, giving you something practical to take directly into your professional work.

Because working with death, dying, grief, and loss also asks something of us personally, you’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own experiences and perspectives and consider how they may influence your work. You’ll also explore culturally responsive care and learn to recognize situations in which additional supervision or consultation may be important.

Whether you’re considering hospice music therapy for the first time or want a stronger foundation for work you’ve already begun, this course will help you approach the setting with greater knowledge, preparation, and clinical confidence.

In this workshop, you will learn:

How hospice care is structured, funded, and regulated in the United States.
The role music therapy can play within hospice care and the interdisciplinary hospice team.
How to recognize and communicate what makes an appropriate music therapy referral.
How to create a music therapy referral resource that can be shared with hospice team members.
How to use case studies to practice writing DAROP notes and strengthen your clinical documentation.
When supervision, consultation, or additional professional support may be appropriate.
How your own experiences and perspectives related to death, dying, grief, and loss can influence your clinical work.
Considerations for providing culturally responsive and respectful music therapy at the end of life.

LEARN:

How music therapy can be utilized in the hospice setting,
What makes an appropriate music therapy referral – You’ll be creating a document that can be shared with other hospice team members.
Through the use of provided case studies, you will gain experience with writing DAROP notes which can provide valuable supporting documentation.
You will be given examples of when supervision or additional consultation is needed
You will be encouraged to reflect upon your own experiences or understanding of death and dying, grief and loss.
Special attention will be placed on how music therapists can provide culturally-sensitive and competent care.

SCHEDULE:

This is a recorded class

40 minutes: An introduction to hospice in the United States- what it is, how it’s funded, current trends

60 minutes: How music therapy can be used in hospice- using music to address holistic needs, educating other team members about the use of music therapy, providing culturally-sensitive and competent music therapy care

50 minutes: Recognizing when supervision or consultation is needed- being able to see the signs of empathy-fatigue and burnout, knowing yourself, tips for self-care

Short assignment.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES (CBMT Domain Areas)

Describe how music therapy can be used to address physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual needs of an individual/family receiving hospice care (III.A.2) (II.D.2.a-c)

Create a referral form, or other relevant educational document, that can be used to educate other hospice team members as to when a referral to music therapy is appropriate and when client needs could be met in some other music-based way (e.g.- music volunteer, if available) (II.A.1,2)

Demonstrate the ability to document music therapy visits in a way that supports the clinical findings of the rest of the hospice team (III.B.2,7)

Recognize signs of when professional supervision or consultation is needed (V.A.5) (III.A.1.f)

Hospice 101: An Introduction to Hospice Music Therapy is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 3 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credits.The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.

Class Description