St Columba’s Hospice achieves Playlist for Life Accreditation! – St Columba’s Hospice Palliative Care, Edinburgh

St Columba’s Hospice achieves Playlist for Life Accreditation!

St Columba’s Hospice achieves Playlist for Life Accreditation! image

St Columba’s Hospice becomes the first hospice in the UK to achieve Playlist for Life accreditation!

St Columba’s Hospice is today (Monday 17th June) proud to confirm its status as a Playlist for Life establishment. Playlist for Life was founded by writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson, and aims to enhance quality of life for people with dementia. The process involves identifying music which is meaningful to that person and is then facilitated by staff trained in the use of Playlist for Life.

Each song is then compiled into a playlist which can be played by the patient and family or carers, to alleviate symptoms, improve wellbeing and incorporate music into care.

Kim Donaldson, St Columba’s Hospice Practice Development Facilitator, said:

“This process has been a great learning experience for all of us, as well as bringing meaningful experiences to our patients and their families. There have been a lot of laughs, and a few tears, but I’m really looking forward to expanding this work here and seeing the difference it will make”.

Research, carried out over a 20-year period at Stanford University has shown that employing ‘therapeutic scheduling’ (e.g. listening to a playlist before a difficult time or activity) can reduce distress in people with dementia. St Columba’s Hospice is committed to ensuring that the care we offer is person-centred and using Playlist for Life is one way of creatively connecting with people who have palliative care needs alongside dementia.

Liz Collins, our Therapies Assistant said:

“It is a privilege to be part of a process which connects patients and families in such a special and meaningful way through music”.

St Columba’s Hospice has completed their certification process following a year-long practice development project, making them the first Hospice in the UK to become a Playlist for Life certified establishment. St Columba’s Hospice would now like develop its evidence-base in this exciting area through further research and evaluation.

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