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In palliative care, days can be long, emotions run deep, and the mental and emotional demands can be immense. The Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) knows the importance of self-care and the need to create small moments of pause, joy, and comfort. That’s why they have launched Care-aoke — a weekly series of curated Spotify playlists designed for palliative care professionals, caregivers, patients, and the general public.

These playlists are not just background music. They’re intentional soundscapes — created to ease stress, lift spirits, or simply offer a moment of calm in the middle of a busy day. Whether you’re preparing for morning clinical rounds, unwinding after a home visit, or just taking a few quiet minutes for yourself, there’s a playlist for you.

Why Music?

Music has a unique ability to connect with us emotionally, bypassing words and speaking directly to the heart. Research has shown that music can:

• Reduce stress and anxiety: A 2020 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Psychology found that listening to music can significantly lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress.
• Support emotional regulation: A study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy reported that music listening can help healthcare professionals process their emotions and prevent burnout.
• Improve mood and resilience: The Journal of Music Therapy notes that both patients and caregivers benefit from curated music sessions, reporting higher levels of positive mood and overall well-being.
• Enhance connection: In palliative care, music has been shown to improve quality of life, foster a sense of presence, and even open meaningful conversations between patients and their loved ones.

Join Us in Listening

We invite you to follow the Care-aoke series on Spotify and explore the playlists as they’re released each week. Take a moment for yourself, share them with your patients and colleagues, and let music be a gentle companion in the work we do. A new playlist drops every Monday!

🎧 Listen to the first playlist, Gentle Starts, here: