LEFT With COVID-19 to consider, Malorie has had
to take extra precautions with patients. She has a
strict regimen she follows to keep the patients safe.
BELOW During the height of the pandemic, Malorie,
like many music therapists, had to get creative. In
order to reach her patients, Malorie made CDs and
singalong videos that she could share through
YouTube.
“For someone who is having a difficult time with
isolation and loneliness, we might talk about specific
lyrics and how it’s relevant to that person’s life.”
now I was not only learning all the
basics but also how to use the guitar for
therapeutic purposes.”
Malorie graduated with a music
therapy degree in 2018 and began an
internship in a psychiatric wing at a
hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. “I
did an adult rotation and an adolescent
rotation,” said Malorie. “And since it
was a general hospital, we were able
to also serve some general medical
patients as well,” which involved things
like providing ‘comfort and care music’
to the dialysis center once a week.
After completing the internship,
Malorie passed her board certification
exam. Her first job was as the activity
director at Antebellum Arlington
Place, a senior living facility in Macon,
Georgia. “I did get to lead music groups
or singalongs from time to time, but it
wasn’t music therapy. Music therapy
can be a very challenging profession.
You spend so much time getting
contract work only to end up with a
part-time job.”
When a position as the Volunteer
Coordinator for Serenity Hospice came
available, she put in her application.
“I went for the interview, and the
administrator noticed my degree in
music therapy, which was something
she felt would be a great addition to
their hospice care,” said Malorie. “She
took the idea to corporate, and they
agreed.”
Malorie began serving patients as
Serenity’s full-time music therapist
in February 2020. Serenity Hospice
is based in Dublin, Georgia, and
has facilities in Dublin, Warner
Robins, Milledgeville, and Vidalia.
“Staff members send me a referral
whenever they see a patient with a
therapeutic need.” Therapeutic needs
can be anything from excessive pain,
depression and anxiety to loneliness
and isolation.
“I receive referrals from each of
the four locations and will see those
patients in their homes on an ongoing
basis.” She also serves those staying in
the in-patient unit, “a 12-bed unit that
provides peace and comfort to patients
nearing end of life who may need pain
or symptom management or respite
care.”
“During my initial visit with the
patient, I just get to know them,”
said Malorie. “Some patients have
dementia or Alzheimer’s. Still, many
are cognitively capable of engaging with
me. I’ll ask what kind of music they like.
Even if music has not been important
to them before, they usually have a
preference. Then, I will assess treatment
goals and give some examples of what
our sessions will look like.”
Every session is personalized for
that particular patient. Malorie will
often be asked to play guitar and sing
songs from a certain era. “For someone
who is having a difficult time with
isolation and loneliness, we might
talk about specific lyrics and how it’s
relevant to that person’s life. I’ve done
musical guessing games. Sometimes
26 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE