Palliative Care Through Song: An Arts-Based Caregiver Education

Palliative Care Through Song: An Arts-Based Caregiver Education Course is an interactive, two-session course designed to provide family caregivers with practical tools and knowledge to support loved ones experiencing serious illness. Through original music, visual art, storytelling, discussion, and evidence-based education, participants will explore approaches to comfort, communication, nutrition and safe swallowing, symptom management, advance care planning, and caregiving at the end of life.

Across two 2-hour sessions, participants will also explore common misconceptions about hospice, palliative care, and pain management; caregiver well-being and resilience; and resources that can help individuals remain safely and comfortably at home. Developed by Dr. Ritabelle Fernandes, Professor of Geriatric Medicine and creator of the Returning Home educational music project, the course translates complex healthcare concepts into accessible, memorable, and practical lessons caregivers can apply in their own lives. No healthcare background is required.

Learner Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the purpose and basic principles of palliative care and hospice and recognize key differences between them.
2. Identify practical strategies to support comfort, safe eating and swallowing, and symptom management during serious illness.
3. Explain the importance of advance care planning and communicating healthcare wishes before a crisis occurs.
4. Recognize common misconceptions about pain management and medications such as morphine.
5.  Identify approaches and community resources that can support individuals and families providing care at home.
6. Recognize common experiences and caregiving needs that may arise during the final stages of life.
7. Identify strategies for supporting caregiver well-being, grief, resilience, and self-care.