title: Sound continuing bonds with the deceased: the relevance of music, including preloss music therapy, for eight bereaved caregivers.
abstract: This study examines music's relevance, including preloss music therapy, for 8 informal caregivers of people who died from cancer. The design was informed by constructivist grounded theory and included semistructured interviews. Bereaved caregivers were supported or occasionally challenged as their musical lives enabled a connection with the deceased. Music was often still used to improve mood and sometimes used to confront grief. Specific music, however, was sometimes avoided to minimize sadness. Continuing bonds theory's focus on connecting with the deceased through memory and imagery engagement may expand to encompass musical memories, reworking the meaning of familiar music, and discovering new music related to the deceased. Preloss music involvement, including music therapy, between dying patients and families can help in bereavement.
authors: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. clare.ocallaghan@petermac.org
authors: Clare C
authors: CC
authors: O'Callaghan
authors: Department of Social Work, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: McDermott
authors: Centre for Palliative Care, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Hudson
authors: Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Zalcberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy; D033262:Narration; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014739:Victoria