Huron Hospice has been awarded a very unique distinction.
In a release, the hospice shares that it has received the Gold Level Music Care Certification from the Room 217 Foundation, making it the first Hospice in Canada to receive this recognition.
The release states that "Room 217 resources offer instruction in music's thoughtful and intentional use in a person's care by designing ways to support residents and families that respect their autonomy, history, tastes, and physical, spiritual, social, and emotional needs."
The certification took nearly a year to complete, beginning with different studies and tests, culminating in a research project focusing on the observation of music's impact on residents.
“Music has always played an important role at Huron Hospice Bender House. Local musicians volunteer their time and talent to play at the hospice. Whether it is spiritual, folk, Celtic or the lyrical sounds of a harp, we know music soothes the soul. With Certification, we better understand music's importance for our residents, families, volunteers, and staff. Certification has allowed us to make music an integral part of our care. It has been an exciting learning curve for us, and we are already seeing positive outcomes.” said Deb Shelley, Volunteer Coordinator at Huron Hospice.