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Appalachian Community Visiting Nurse Association Implements Music Program

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The Appalachian Community Visiting Nurse Association, Hospice and Health Services provides special care for people getting near to death.

Caregivers focus on promoting comfort and peace of mind.

New to the hospice team are two staffers who will implement a music program.

Milena Miller is director of development for the Athens hospice.

Miller says these team members are musicians whose involvement is being paid for by a $50,000 grant.

The grant was received from a private family foundation in New York, the Epstein Teicher Philanthrophies. 

"We're so honored to have recieved the money,"said Miller. "We've been wanting to have a formal music program for a lot of years."

The program is modeled after the Central California Hospice in San Luis Obispo, California.

"This is tied into the spirituality aspect of the hospice," said Miller."It's really something that's going to set us apart and provide an opportunity for us to really reach the hearts and souls of our clients."

Miller says the musicians should begin making patient visits by the end of the month.
"There are two local musicians who also happen to be graduates of our music therapy department here at Ohio University, Gay Dozell ? and Celia Lewis,"said Miller.
Miller says  the music program is unique in this area and Appalachian is looking forward to getting started.
These services will be available to patients who are have life-limiting disease and are considered to be terminally ill.
"It's really important that these musicians are going to be trained to be with the patients as they are transitioning and dying," said Miller."We're very pleased to have this opportunity."