Senior Citizens can find ‘Healing Rhythms’ through music therapy By Hannah Yang
hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com
Simply put, music helps people heal. That’s the mission of Healing Rhythms Music Therapy, a business based in Rochester since 2013. Music therapy is the clinical use of music interventions by a board-certified music therapists to support cognitive, emotional, physical and psychosocial needs, according to The American Music Therapy Association. Through this type of treatment, patients can find ways to enhance coping and support quality of life through group and individual sessions. Although it works primarily in caring for individuals with disabilities, music therapy has the ability to reach people of all ages and improve their quality of life. Since 2017, the Rochester business has been a clinic that services patients from all over the region and has over 30 community partners ranging from assisted living centers, hospitals, hospices, schools and more. “We take care of patients from birth, to really, end of life,” said Christina Wood, founder and director of Healing Rhythms. “Music therapists use music as a tool to help people regard-
“We take care of patients from birth, to really, end of life. Music therapists use music as a tool to help people regardless of age or ability.” Christina Wood Founder, director of Healing Rhythms less of age or ability.” Hosting a variety of different types of sessions, such as adaptive music classes and drum circles, patients of all ages can experience the healing effects of the therapy that’s given.
The clinic has also spread its roots into Austin, having partnered with Mayo Clinic Hospice and Heartland Hospice. Wood said that licensed music therapists would head out to Austin a few days a week to work
with patients in assisted living centers, hospitals and even in the patients’ homes. The accessibility remained one of the most important aspects of the clinic. During those vulnerable
moments, Wood said that their clients receive the best care possible by being able to help them cope with pain, and sometimes their loved ones also heal through the music therapy session as well.
“Our music therapists are entrusted to be witness and hold sacred space through music,” she said. “They do this for our patients who are going through some of life’s most fragile moments.”
There’s help for the dreaded ‘too old to drive’ moment By Peter Cox MPR News/90.1 FM
It’s not clear whether age played a role in the recent bus stop crash of a van with an 83-year-old man behind the wheel. But advancing age can erode driving skills, and there comes a time when it’s no longer safe to drive. Coming to terms with that moment can inspire dread all around. Elizabeth Andress’ father was diagnosed with early stage dementia in 1992. He was 71. He was still capable of doing most things and continued to drive, limiting himself to nearby drives and day driving. Then he had a couple of close calls and called a family meeting. “My dad pulled the car keys out of his pocket and placed them on the coffee table and announced he was done driving and then he just cried,” she said. Andress said it was emotional for the entire family. “Of course, for him it was an admission of the
like Andress’ father, make the decision themselves. In some cases, family members or friends convince a person to turn over the car keys. Families can ask Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services to test someone. Doctors can recommend cancelling a license. There are also programs that help people to assess their driving ability. At the HealthPartners Rehabilitation-Neuroscience Center, occupational therapist Kathleen Kiefer stood in front of a black screen hitting buttons in front of her when they lit up, and watched a screen that showed a number every few seconds. The system approximates the multitasking demands of driving “ We k n ow wh e n we Kathleen Kiefer, an occupational therapist with Health Partners, shows one of the driving drive, we have more than a simulators used in the clinic’s Driving Ability Program on Tuesday. The program helps peoneed to take a look at numple dealing with a variety of health issues assess their driving ability.Peter Cox/MPR News bers and lights,” she said. “We have many things to cognitive losses that come also one more loss of roles ing can worsen — at a cer- look at — our speed, where with dementia,” she said. that he could take in the tain point, driving is no we are in the lane.” “And then it was the loss family to be helpful.” longer safe. There are a series of of so much freedom in our As we age, our reactions How people reach those tests like this and actual car-dependent culture and slow, our vision and hear- decisions varies. Some, on-the-road tests, which
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help Kiefer and her colleagues determine if someone should stop or limit their driving. Kiefer works in HealthPartners’ Driving Ability Program. Her job means she’s often playing the heavy, telling someone it’s time to quit driving. “Driving retirement is not easy, she said. Physicians often refer people to the program. But family members refer loved ones, too. “Oftentimes family members want somebody else to be the bad guy,” Kiefer said. “They want to maintain the respect and their loving relationship with their father or mother or whoever it is.” Kiefer said there are times when a family member thinks it is time to for a relative to stop driving, and the HealthPartners assessment finds them to be a fine driver.
See DRIVING, Page 2