Finding comfort beyond words

In response to hearing her song request "Hey Jude" by the Beatles, a Kaiser Hayward patient shared, "You don't know how much this meant to me. I feel that my healing has now just begun, thank you!"

Music provides healing on a variety of levels: Physiological, emotional, mental and spiritual. Medical studies have helped us discover the positive effects of music in the healing process. Music has been found to lower high blood pressure, increase oxygen levels, decrease pain, and help a patient feel more calm.

When words alone are not adequate, music delivers encouragement and hope to people in a uniquely profound and mysterious way.

Professional chaplains at Kaiser Hayward Medical Center offer music therapy as well as  inter-faith spiritual support for patients and their families. In addition, a chaplain-led Music Therapy Choir visits patients at the bedside and offers a song or two in harmony accompanied by guitar. We provide music from many different genres to respond to our patients' eclectic tastes: oldies, country, folk, raggae, spiritual or religious music and more.

Patients or family members may request music therapy during a patient's hospitalization by contacting Spiritual Care Services at 510-784-4717.