The Top 6 Hospice Songs I Use

Updated May 2023:

This post about hospice music therapy is almost 14 years old and, surprising to me, it still gets a lot of traffic. I don’t work in hospice any longer, and now I work primarily with kids in a pediatric hospital. I suspect the song preferences have changed quite a bit since I wrote this, as these songs are even older now. I also reflect on the fact that these were “hits” where I was working at the time – rural Iowa – and song preferences might look a lot different in other regions.

I’m curious to know why you’re visiting this page. Are you a music therapist looking for songs to use in your hospice work? Are you another type of hospice worker who incorporates music into your job? Or maybe you have a family member or friend receiving hospice care? Whatever the reason for your visit, thanks for stopping by.

Since this post was written, the accessibility of music has changed significantly. The explosion in access to music via streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube means almost any song, and almost any version of any song, is immediately at your fingertips. IPods were still a dominant music device when I wrote this, and CD’s were still ubiquitous on store shelves.

Instead of carrying around songbooks, I can look up the chords to most songs on my phone or tablet. Evidently, things have changed in many ways since this was originally published.

The universality of music means it can provide comfort, familiarity, and a means of expression, even in very difficult times. It’s a powerful tool, especially in hospice or palliative care settings, where it can offer solace and comfort. When I think back to my hospice music therapy days, I feel honored to have witnessed such rich interactions. The stories, the laughs, and the tears were a gift.

For those of you who are hospice music therapists or healthcare workers incorporating music into your practice, I highly recommend tailoring your song choices to your patients’ personal preferences. Get to know them. Ask about their favorite artists, genres, even movie soundtracks. Learning a patient’s musical history provides a window into their world.

For family members or friends of folks in hospice care, don’t underestimate the power of music in providing comfort. Indeed, there are many ways to use music. Whether you’re singing together, sharing songs, or playing soothing music in the background, music can offer a beautiful way to bond and make memories.

If you have any song recommendations, anecdotes about how you’ve used music in a care setting, or want to share another experience, I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by – I hope this updated post provided something valuable.

Best wishes!
Matt

Original Post:

I decided to create a list of some of the songs I tend to use over and over in my hospice music therapy work.  Hospice clients account for about half of my work hours, and I have about 10-14 active clients at any given time.  The location of the private practice I work for is in a fairly small town in Iowa, and I travel often to other small towns in nearby counties.  This may account for the preferences of my clients, and I’m hoping that many of you will have other songs to add to this list.  In fact, you can create your own “Top 6” in the comments section!  It would be nice for everyone to see what is working for other people in other locations.  Thanks!

1.  In the Garden (Hymn)
This is a rather old hymn, and I have used it in many ways.  Several families have requested it and sang along while their family members may be unresponsive.  The familiarity of the song and the spiritual comfort it provides to some can change the tone of a tense or emotionally difficult environment.  In one on one settings, I’ve found that humming the melody with simple guitar accompaniment can be effective in reducing anxiety.

2. Carolina Moon by Benny Davis and Joe Burke

This is definitely an oldie, but it is one of my “go-to’s” when a client can’t think of a song to request or when I’m working with someone born in the 1910’s or 1920’s.  It has been my experience that they can almost always sing along to this one.  Caution: this lilting love song is ultra-catchy, and has the ability to get stuck in your head for days.

3. How Great Thou Art (Hymn)

Another classic hymn that seems to be known by members of almost every Christian denomination.  This is a must for your hospice tool bag.

4. I Love by Tom T. Hall

I picked this one up from one of my internship supervisors, Kim Hawkins.  It’s great because of the imagery in it, which can serve as substance for discussion, reminiscence, or lyric analysis.  It is also an easy song to use for a fill-in-the-blank songwriting intervention, in which a client inserts the things that he or she loves.

5. Old Rugged Cross (Hymn)

Another old hymn that tends to get requested quite often.  The Alan Jackson version in the iTunes link is actually pretty good.  Check it out!

6.  Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Beth Slater Whitson and Leo Friedman

In a tweet the other day, I noted that I almost made it a week without singing this song.  Well, it didn’t happen.  It’s great for facilitating interaction between spouses, and it’s a song that many of my patients with dementia can still sing along with.  I guess it is just one of those melodies that doesn’t go away.

This is a VERY short list, and I’m sure you have many songs to recommend.  I would love to know what you are playing as a hospice music therapist!

-Matt