The use of music therapy in meeting the multidimensional needs of hospice patients and families.

This article presents four case studies which demonstrate the use of music therapy in assisting palliative care patients and families cope with grief and loss, pain and anxiety, disorientation and dementia, lack of meaning, and hopelessness. Music therapy techniques are illustrated and patient-related goals are defined within the case studies. A review of the literature supports the use of music therapy in palliative care, and a variety of qualitative and quantitative studies are reported in the article.