Supporting All Members of the Care Delivery Team

Dr Clements-Cortes is an assistant professor, Music and Health Research Collaboratory, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; instructor, Wilfrid Laurier University and Ryerson Chang School; certified music therapist; and registered psychotherapist. www.notesbyamy.com  

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” —Booker T. Washington

Have you ever stopped to think about all the people who are part of a resident’s or patient’s care in long-term, palliative, and complex continuing care? I am sure many of you have. It takes a large range of disciplines working together to enhance quality of life and provide whole-person care—physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and emotional care. Not only does the interdisciplinary medical team have an important role, but there are many other individuals who contribute to the older adults’ experience in these living places. How can we support others who contribute to the health and well-being of patients? 

Having worked in palliative and long-term care (LTC) for a number of years, I remember several members from environmental services who stood out and were quite important in patients’ overall holistic care. For example, one housekeeper would update me upon arrival to the unit about her interactions with the patients. As she attended to cleaning and maintaining their rooms, she took the time to speak with the patients as she worked. She got to know them; and her daily interactions provided an opportunity for social interaction and emotional expression. But I always wondered what happened when the patients died? Did anyone ask this very dedicated person how she was doing or if it affected her? The interdisciplinary professional team had an opportunity to debrief after a patient or resident died in weekly rounds, but what about this housekeeper? Was she impacted?

In another example, a waitress in an LTC home where I worked would set up meticulously each day for her residents. She prepared personalized dining areas and was very kind in her interactions with the clients. She told jokes and livened up the dining area. She not only added to the residents’ lives, but also to the entire environment on the unit. One day I saw her in the afternoon after she was informed that a resident passed. She was extremely sad, as she knew this resident for 5 years. I was able to support her that day by listening and sharing memories to honor this person who had died.

I encourage you, if you are not already mindful, to look at the bigger picture and the entire team that is involved in providing patient and resident care and to offer a supportive ear if the need arises.

Amy Clements-Cortes is Assistant Professor, Music and Health Research Collaboratory, University of Toronto; Academic Coordinator & Instructor, Interdisciplinary Studies, Ryerson Chang School; Instructor and Supervisor, Wilfrid Laurier University; Music Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist. Amy has extensive clinical experience working with clients across the life span, with a specialty in older adults, dementia and palliative care. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, including her new 2016 book: Voices of the Dying and Bereaved, and she has given over 100 conference and/or invited academic presentations. Amy is Past-President of the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT), and Managing Editor of the Music and Medicine journal. She is a Past President of the Canadian Association for Music Therapists, and serves on the editorial review boards for 9 international journals. Notes By Amy was founded in 1995 and provides a variety of professional services including: Private Music Therapy, Psychotherapy, and Guided Imagery and Music Sessions; Performances; Clinical Music Therapy Supervision and Mentoring; Voice Lessons; Music Therapy Courses; and Research Collaboration.

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