Harp
Instead provides complementary and alternative therapy
appropriate
in the management of chronic pain, hospice
comfort, palliative care, and
distraction from the complications of long term suffering or medical
procedures. Harp Instead brings treatment to hospitals,
nursing
homes, rehabilitation centers and private homes that enhances the
healing process and eases suffering. Individualized performances of
music may bring
relief
from a myriad of symptoms when conventional medicine is not enough,
doing so in a way that does not contradict medical
treatments.
Illinois
therapeutic harpist bringing music as medicine: CD or performance
music as medicine
brings few side effects
Why Angels Play Harps: a blog
about therapeutic use of harp music
7 Ways Music Breaks Can Improve Your Health
Looking for a way to
bring music to residents in assisted living or nursing care?
Consider the soothing effect of a private visit by a Harp Instead
musician.
listen
Barbara Fackler,
harpist
630-665-6098

click on album cover for more info about this
CD of solo harp music and for demo sound files (mp3)
Harp Instead Program
Harp Instead provides two services: Private Visits and Concerts of
Comfort.
Private Visits:
Harp music
with its resonant and gentle
qualities provides far
more benefit than candy, cards or flowers. The
comforting, soothing and caring effects of music lingers for days in
memories.
Private visits are made by
appointment (subject to approval by the facility management when
appropriate). In general,
Harp Instead visits are best during normal visiting hours.
Visits last for 30 minutes.
The
harp is played next to the
recipient.
Music is tailored to the
recipient.
Close friends and family are
welcome to attend the performance.
Gift cards are available.
Currently available only in
Dupage County, Illinois.
Practical uses:
The therapeutic effects of harp music are noninvasive, free of negative
side effects and completely personal:
Music reaches a
person beyond the influence of drug
therapies.
Personalization
of the music can aid recollection of pleasant memories while providing
diversion and relaxation for the recipient.
Music offers
therapy
that is complementary to therapies offered by conventional medicine.
Private
visits can be used to bring life enhancement services to residents of
assisted living and nursing units who do not participate in group
programs. Click here
for information on creative and affordable ways to include Harp Instead
in your programming schedule and meet the needs of more of your
residents.
Since pain is a subjective experience, unique treatments like a Harp
Instead performance provides a solution found no place else! Through
its caring and personal approach, Harp Instead makes the recipient feel
special. Personalized visits alieviate feelings of lonliness, boredom
and anxiety.
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Concerts of Comfort:
Concerts of Comfort provide valuable time off for family
members and
caregivers. Concerts are scheduled by a hospital or nursing home at
their facility, providing an opportunity for patients, family,
caregivers and facility staff to enjoy live harp music in an informal
and convenient setting. Concerts of Comfort offer the same benefit as a
private visit from Harp Instead in a setting that allows groups to
gather.
Call
for information on the next scheduled concert.
Music
requests are welcome.
Participation is flexible and meets the schedule requirements
of the audience.
Purpose:
To offer a place of refuge from illness and suffering for patients,
their families and caregivers, including on site staff.
Benefits:
Relaxation, lessening of stress levels and respite are a few of the
benefits of a Concert of Comfort. Those who attend a concert will find
they are better able to cope with their situation. Music has been shown
to reduce pain perception, alter blood pressure and respiration,
ameliorate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and improve mood,
all with no adverse side effects. Lingering benefits continue with the
memory of the music.
Format:
Concerts of Comfort are informal. Attendees come and go at will,
allowing participation to be flexible. Concerts may be formed
spontaneously by allowing attendees to make requests on the spot, or
more formally programmed around a specific genre of music. There is no
dress code, allowing residents to attend as they are without
embarrassment.
Place(s):
Concerts take place in hospitals, nursing facilities, rehab centers,
churches, and other publicly accessible venues. Lobbies, cafeterias and
meeting rooms all provide space suitable for Comfort Concerts. On rare
occasions, concerts may be scheduled in a more private private setting.
Contact your local health care facility to find out if they offer a
Concert of Comfort.
Duration:
One to two hours is the average length of a Concert of
Comfort.
This allows a large block of time during which patients and their
guests and staff can find time to attend all or part of the concert.
Duration of attendance is left to the discretion of each audience
member.
How
to Schedule a Harp Instead Visit
Areas served by harpist: Dupage County, Illinois, including but not
limited
to Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Winfield, Carol Stream, Lombard, Naperville,
West Chicago, Lisle, and Warrenville.
Harp Instead now offers referrals to the Mount Prospect and Rockford,
Illinois areas.
Recent visits by Harp Instead harpist have been to: Aurora
Rehab, private
homes, the British Home (Brookfield), Salem Village (Joliet), Tower
Hill (South Elgin), Apostolic
Christian Rest Haven (Elgin), ASTA (Elgin), Fairview Ministries
(Downers
Grove), The Renaissance (Hillside), Central
Dupage Hospital, Good
Samaritan Hospital, Wynscape Nursing Care, Marian
Joy Rehabilitation Hospital, Marian Joy at Rest
Haven West (Downers Grove).
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