Maytown woman uses music to communicate with those in hospice

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Airdate: Thursday, February 17, 2022

How often has a song you heard on the radio brought back a memory — taken you back to a time when that music was popular or to a specific event in your life? All of us have probably had that experience. Music is unique in how it can reach those memories.

Lauren Knatz of Maytown in Lancaster County is unique too. She describes herself as an eldercare, hospice and palliative care musician. What that means is Knatz uses live acoustic music for those who are suffering from dementia or Alzheimers or are dying to evoke autobiography memory to bring back memories and improve communication.

Knatz has written a book about her experiences as well. It’s called Gatekeepers and it talks about the healing power of music at the end of life.

Lauren Knatz appears on Thursday’s Smart Talk to discuss this fascinating and comforting topic.

The Associated Press and WITF’s democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie are partnering to tell stories about how Pennsylvania elections work, and to debunk misinformation surrounding elections. 

Read the stories here