DOWNEY – As an innovator and premier provider of rehabilitation and acute medical and surgical services for more than 125 years, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center understands that therapy and the healing process isn’t just physical.

All too often depression, hopelessness and mental fatigue can be a hindrance to a successful recovery. On January 13, the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation launched their new Music In Therapy program with its partner LA Opera Connects, to bring the joy and hope of music to improve their inpatient’s wellbeing.

Spearheaded by Rancho’s Speech Therapy Department, therapists identify three patients every two weeks to work with the LA Opera team.

As music transcends generations and social backgrounds, any and all patients, regardless of their degree of injury (spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, etc.) are eligible to participate in the program.

Wendy Burton, Chief of Communication Disorders said, “It’s great to see the patients faces light up and how appreciative they are. Patients feel like this is an escape from the pain of their injury or illness and the loneliness of being in the hospital. Through this interaction, they are transported to a time filled with happier memories.”

Patients are given a list of songs and asked to share their favorite ones with their speech therapist prior to the session, so that they can receive a one of a kind and personalized experience.

Through Zoom, the LA Opera Connects team then performs songs for the patient while encouraging conversation and a sing along to assist in the patient’s speech therapy regiment.

LA Opera Connects has paired the talented Nandani Sinha, a mezzo-soprano opera singer and Charlie Kim, vocalist, pianist, and conductor with Rancho’s patients for this very special interactive experience.

Burton shared that “Nandani and Charlie are both so exuberant and kind. They choose songs and stories that are inspirational and uplifting for the patients.”

She summarized the benefits of the program best, “These patients are going through a trauma that has turned their world upside down, on top of the Covid-19 pandemic that has left them isolated and alone.

“The importance of music and its ability to touch them emotionally and to heal is so powerful and beautiful. In fact, the majority of the patients involved so far have been moved to tears, in a very good way.”

For more information about the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation, please call (562) 385-7053 or visit www.RanchoFoundation.org