A first in North America - Vibro Acoustic Harp Therapy for Patients in Palliative Care

A new alternative therapy is now offered to Palliative Care patients at the Hawkesbury & District General Hospital thanks to a 10 000$ financial contribution granted by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to the Vankleek Hill Music Festival and a 5 000$ donation from the hospital Foundation.

«We are very happy to be able to count on the services of volunteer harpist Ian Hepburn who is the heart of our new program,” explains Dr Jean A. Fairfield, Chief of Staff. « Without Mr. Hepburn’s enthusiasm and the commitment of our two sponsors, our patients would not be able to benefit from this therapy aimed at offering an alternative method of reducing the level of chronic pain, tension or stress of hospitalized Palliative Care patients.»

Donations provided by the foundations were used to purchase an acoustic harp and a bed in which Vankleek Hill musician-designer Mr. Bobby Lalonde inserted speakers. Ontario Trillium Foundation member Mr. Chuck Charlebois reported how proud he was to represent an organization which had been able to assess the importance of Mr. Hepburn’s project. For his part, Mr. André Tessier, President of the Foundation Board of Directors reiterated the satisfaction of the Foundation administrators at being part of such an innovative project.

Vibro Acoustic Therapy (VAT) is a form of therapy where sound is transferred directly to the human body, using loudspeakers or transducers as the active medium. The loudspeakers are built into a chair, bed, or couch and the patient is sitting or lying directly above the active surface. Vibrating the surface with sound, causes the sounds to penetrate the body to obtain internal massage and this massage has a positive effect on the person.

«The therapy also affects the mental, emotional and energetic or spiritual aspects of the individual, mentions Mr. Hepburn and to undergo this type of therapy, the patient must obtain his family doctor’s consent in order to ascertain that there are no contra-indications.»

Attending the official launch of the new program, MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde stated being extremely happy that the administrators of both Foundations believed in the project that will bring comfort and well-being to many people.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For 25 years, it has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province. OTF continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives. For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.