Musical Companionship: How to be a Musical Companion for Your Loved One at End-of-Life

TO GET ON THE WAITING LIST please email Jayne.

Join Hospicare for a three part series with Jayne Demakos. Monday’s on 3/ 6, 3/ 13, and 3/20 from 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. This program is offered to the community free of charge and anyone with or without musical training or experience is invited.

This is a three part exploration in ways families and loved ones can include music as a care resource as they journey with those who have received life threatening diagnosis, are critically ill, are traveling a hospice journey, may be approaching the end of life or may be actively dying. This series will provide tools and ways to be with loved ones using live music, especially singing, as a support for those who are ill, as well as for the family and loved ones themselves who are gathered at the bedside. The class will explore teachings and facilitator anecdotal experiences, include opportunities for discussion and provide song material for participants to learn and to keep.

Jayne Demakos is a certified therapeutic harpist and certified music-thanatologist (music and end-of-life care). She has worked in the care of the critically ill and dying for 17 years using harp and voice to address physical, emotional and spiritual concerns special to this time. She co-developed and co-led GriefSong, a program using music, especially singing, to be with and process grief. She was founder of CompassionHarp (CompassionHarp.org) a not for profit whose mission it is to bring therapeutic music to the underserved in central New York. Jayne served on the faculty at Ithaca College developing and teaching specialized courses, ‘Exploring Music in Medicine’ with an emphasis on Hospice. She has presented her work in conferences and workshops in the United States, especially on the east coast, and in Ireland. She has released three audio albums mostly featuring harp and voice.