The most recent gift announcement for the Close to Home campaign included a reflection on the impact of music therapy
“I have witnessed individuals living their last days and weeks from a place of power. Even while they are confined to a bed, their strength diminishing, they are living their lives, making things rights with each other, with others, sharing words of love and forgiveness, challenging others to live lives of deep meaning – and dreaming still.” – Ruth Eliason, Music Therapist
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
The impact of holistic care and the healing power of music provided a touching context for a recent gift announcement for the Close to Home campaign to build Saskatoon’s first stand-alone hospice.
The latest gift to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation’s $20 million Close to Home campaign was announced at a media event Sept. 10: $650,000 from local philanthropists Gord and Jill Rawlinson, owners of Rawlco Radio.

Left to right: Lecina Hicke, CEO St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation; Pam Leyland, President of Rawlco Radio; Karen Barber, Executive Director of St. Paul’s Hospital; Ruth Eliason, St. Paul’s Hospital Music Therapist; and Todd Rosenberg, Volunteer Close to Home Campaign Co-Chair, unveil the donation from Gordon and Jill Rawlinson. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski)
Funds raised in the Close to Home campaign will help to build the Hospice at Glengarda now under construction in southeast Saskatoon – as well as to renovate the existing palliative care ward at St. Paul’s Hospital, and to establish endowment funds that will strengthen palliative care education and holistic services available to those facing end-of-life.
“Hospice care and holistic care are an incredibly important facet of end-of-life care services,” said Close to Home campaign co-chair Todd Rosenberg. “Holistic care means that we will provide such services as spiritual care, bereavement care, art therapy, the healing arts program – all very necessary ingredients in dealing with the whole person, not just their specific end-of-life medical symptoms.”
One aspect of that holistic care is music therapy.
Ruth Eliason, a music therapist working with Palliative Care Services at St. Paul’s Hospital, opened the media event by singing her composition “Where the Heart Is” to showcase the type of music she creates with patients and families. Later in the program, she described the role of music in holistic care.
“I have had the privilege to walk with many patients and family members, using music to ease their experience at end-of-life,” she said. “When patients come into our care, we honour and acknowledge that they do so as a whole person: physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual.”
Music is a wonderful way to integrate that holistic approach, because for many, music is an important facet of life, and is easily adapted to varying energy levels, abilities and situations, Eliason explained.
Probably the most common way to use music therapy is in reminiscence, she said.

Ruth Eliason, Music Therapist
“Music has a powerful way of bringing back memories. Whether it is a song from the summer of 1956, or the lullabies we remember or a child, or the first dance song at one’s wedding – hearing familiar music can transport people and help them re-visit a positive memory or recall a time or place in their history.”
Music therapy can also aid in relaxation, with gentle music and visualization exercises providing patients with tools to be able to reduce anxiety. “Often images that patients choose for a visualization exercise are a special place at home, a favourite spot or a vacation spot. For many in hospital it may have been weeks or maybe months since they were able to visit their home, so being able to visualize a familiar place can be very comforting,” described Eliason, saying music can facilitate that visualization.
“Music is also accessed to tap spiritual strength. Music touches our spirit and can be a familiar expression of one’s faith,” she said. “To be able to choose a meaningful spiritual song to be shared among family can support that expression of faith, and remind people of the strengths that are already there, waiting to be accessed.”
Music is also used as a tool for “life review,” Eliason continued. “I believe that part of coming to the end of one’s life in a healthy way does involve making sense out of – and reviewing – the events of the past that have shaped one’s life. Music is a powerful way to do this, either through pre-composed music, or through song writing.”
Music is also important in what Eliason described as “legacy work” – answering the deep need for a person to know that they have made a difference in the world, and that they will be remembered.
“One of the most touching things I have had the privilege to do was to record the heartbeat of a patient, and then to record a song to accompany that heartbeat,” she said. “This is a tremendously moving and personal gift that a patient can give and share with their family and it can be a really wonderful and vibrant reminder of who that individual is.”
Music is also part of rituals and services that are part of life for those in hospital or palliative care – including such things as weddings or memorials held at the hospital. “Music is intertwined into some of those very special markers in one’s life.
Holistic palliative care strives to ensure that those facing the end-of-life are able to experience what matters most, she said. “I have witnessed individuals living their last days and weeks from a place of power. Even while they are confined to a bed, their strength diminishing, they are living their lives, making things right with each other, with others, sharing words of love and forgiveness, challenging others to live lives of deep meaning – and dreaming still.”
“Often, as individuals nearing the end of their lives, the little things become big things – the important things – like holding the hand of someone you love, or hearing a grandchild’s laugh, having a few bites of a favourite dessert, listening to a beautiful piece of music, celebrating a Rider’s win, watching the birds outside the window. If you think about where our heart is, It is wrapped up in these many small moments that make up the life that we love.”
Eliason concluded by speaking on behalf of the patients and families that she works with, and on behalf of countless individuals who will use the Hospice at Glengarda after it opens: “I would thank donors for their generous gift from the heart… this generosity will make a tremendous difference for so many in our community, helping provide patients and their families with a welcoming and safe place at the end of life.”
Chris Boychuk, past board chair of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, also recognized all that is made possible because of the commitment of those in the community.
“As part of the Foundation’s work we have had the privilege of helping to realize the mission, vision and values of the founders of St. Paul’s Hospital, the Grey Nuns. Since 1982, the Foundation has raised close to $69 million to help continue the mission, vision and values of those sisters,” he said.
“We have been consistently humbled by the generosity of the community in supporting this campaign,” Boychuk added, thanking all those contributing to the Close to Home campaign and acknowledging the passion and dedication of volunteer campaign chairs Todd Rosenberg and Dr. Vivian Walker, and of honorary campaign chairs Gene and Adele Dupuis.
Newly-appointed CEO of St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, Lecina Hicke , also thanked all those who are so passionate about the cause of strengthening palliative care and constructing Saskatchewan’s first free-standing hospice, including donors, as well as the campaign chairs, the St. Paul’s Hospital board, the Foundation, hospital leadership and “our many partners and all wonderful staff, care givers, patient advocates and community members who have lent their time and talents to this project.”
Hospital Executive Director Karen Barber said she was deeply moved by the generosity of donors such as Gordon and Jill Rawlinson, noting that “St. Paul’s has a long history of compassionately caring for the most vulnerable in our midst. The Rawlinson’s gift to our Close To Home campaign will help us to support Saskatchewan residents in their time of need, and will help people live their lives to the fullest, as they journey toward end of life.”

Left to right: Karen Barber – Executive Director of St. Paul’s Hospital, Sr. Anne Lewans, OSU, of the Ursulines of Prelate, and Lecina Hicke, CEO St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, at the most recent gift announcement for the Close to Home campaign for the Hospice at Glengarda. Saskatchewan’s first stand alone hospice is being constructed at the site of the former Ursuline Sisters’ residence on Hilliard and Melrose street, across from St. Francis Xavier parish. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski)
Construction on the Hospice at Glengarda began in May of this year. Close to Home Campaign Co-Chair Todd Rosenberg says fundraising is progressing very well with more than $18.5 million in community support raised to date.
To make a donation, or learn more about the Close to Home campaign, contact St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation at 306-655-5821 or visit http://www.CloseToHome.fund.
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Where the Heart Is
Composed and performed by Music Therapist Ruth Eliason, 2019
Standing on the dock, looking at the stars
See the sky light up with Northern lights
I always feel at home, whenever I am here
My roots run deep –
Walk into the room, streamers in the air
Blow the candles out, hear the young ones cheer
I look into the eyes of the family that I love
My heart fills up, and all at once I know –
I’m grateful for these moments and the life I share with you
I’m grateful for this province and the land, the people too
I’m grateful for my family, the people I call friends
I’m grateful for the chance to give – to make a difference
You ask me where my heart is – it’s here.
Give more than you take, momma told me once
The table’s big enough for everyone,
It doesn’t cost a thing to be compassionate
My life gives back, and all at once I know –
I’m grateful for these moments and the life I share with you
I’m grateful for this province and the land, the people too
I’m grateful for my family, the people I call friends
I’m grateful for the chance to give – to make a difference
You ask me where my heart is – it’s here.

Construction of the Hospice at Glengarda started this summer. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski)