Maytown woman uses music to communicate with those in hospice

February 17, 2022 | 10:21 AM

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  Scott LaMar
  

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.

  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of the daily Smart Talk news and public affairs 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.

  LaMar was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.

  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. LaMar was the only recipient of the award nationally. He has won more than a dozen Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcast Awards since 2000 and has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.

  LaMar and Smart Talk have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s first “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.

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 9:30 am and 7:30 pm on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”

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.