Holistic Intervention
Complementary Therapies ~ Holistic Modalities
Acupuncture - Acupressure
Clinicians utilize acupuncture to address physical symptoms ranging from pain, anxiety to shortness of breath. The goal of practice is to alleviate discomfort and promote peace of mind and body. This adjunct intervention has received complimentary research reports supporting the benefits observed through psychological, social, and spiritual outcomes.
Acupressure is an ancient healing art using the fingers to gradually press key healing points, which stimulate the body’s natural self-care abilities. Therapy is effective in the relief of stress-related ailments, and is ideal for self-treatment and preventive health care for boosting the immune system.
Acupressure releases tension, increases circulation, reduces pain, and develops spirituality and vibrant health. Unlike conventional Western medical practice, acupuncturists are trained to treat the entire individual rather than the specific illness or condition. They take into account a patient’s physical, mental and emotional condition in order to determine the proper course of treatment. In addition to providing acupuncture therapy, practitioners help their patients achieve balance and wellness in their everyday lives.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy will utilize essential oils to improve psychological and physical well-being. The oils may be diffused in public or private settings to uplift the spirit. Essential oils may also be applied to clients’ skin per request.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being. The inhaled aroma from these “essential” oils is widely believed to stimulate brain function.
Gentle Touch Holistic Therapies
Healing Touch ~ Massage Therapy ~ Reiki
Gentle Touch therapies address pain and discomfort by utilizing physical contact to restore connection, comfort and nurturing. Each modality applies adaptable interventions to address pain, anxiety, restlessness and a myriad of physical symptoms. The significant benefit of touch therapy is to improve comfort and quality of life without the use of pharmaceutical interventions.
Healing Touch is for the individual who wants to enhance wellness in themselves and the lives of people they care about by using the gift of touch, with the intention for the highest good for the recipient. Healing Touch offers comfort and relief when nothing else seems to help.
Massage therapy is manual manipulation of soft body tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments) to enhance a person’s state of being. Massage therapy is used for a variety of reasons – to reduce stress and anxiety, relax muscles, and to reduce pain.
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are likely to feel low, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and peaceful.
Floating
What is Floating?
Floating involves resting gently in an Epsom salt-water solution in a spacious isolation pod. You will float in an enlarged tub that holds over 800 pounds of dissolved magnesium sulfate. The water is warmed to the same temperature as the surface of your skin, about 94 degrees Fahrenheit. The pod’s exceptionally unique environment is designed to allow for minimal sensory input into your nervous system, thereby enhancing mind and body relaxation.
Benefits of Floating:
- Floating combines the benefits of relaxation, massage, sleep, and meditation. You may experience one or many of the following benefits:
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- Migraine relief
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Extraordinarily deep relaxation
- Improved athletic performance and recovery
- Enhanced mental clarity, focus, and creativity
- Relief from pregnancy discomfort
- Decreased muscle tension
- Detoxification
- Enhanced ability to heal
Culinary Therapy - Nutrition Therapy - Dietary Alterations
Nutrition and all things culinary will be utilized to improve clients’ quality of life. The dietician will direct meal plans based upon client preference and the ability to alter diet to improve quality of life. Clients’ will have the opportunity to engage in culinary activities, compare recipes and participate in meal preparation as appropriate.
The dietician will offer end of life education related to nutrition. The purpose is to prepare the client and their family for physical changes related to appetite and meal consumption resulting in an improved understanding of the end of life process as it relates to nutrition.
Pet Therapy
Pet therapy uses the natural bond between humans and animals to provide comfort, peace, and soothing companionship to terminally ill clients. Hospice pet therapy programs have a profound impact on social and emotional well-being of clients due to the animals relaxing and understanding presence. Animals and their certified handlers have the unique ability to bring joy and comfort during the end of life transition.
Pet therapy includes animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders. Pet therapy can also provide comfort, enjoyment and relaxation to the client and their family.
Music Therapy
Music will be utilized to soothe, restore and nurture clients’ receiving hospice services. Music is a powerful tool for physical, emotional and spiritual care. The sounds are molded to decrease anxiety and pain, to promote relaxation and to facilitate communication. Music therapy will be available to both individual and group atmospheres.
Music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. Music can often reduce stress and pain, encourage relaxation, and improve self-esteem and coping skills. Music has also been known to improve the quality of life of clients and their loved ones.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy uses relaxation of the conscious mind to communicate with the subconscious, a reservoir of our deeply-held beliefs about ourselves and our lives. By contacting the subconscious mind, we can release negative beliefs and emotional wounds to move toward beautiful change. In addition, hypnosis promotes feelings of safety and calm assurance through the use of suggestion. This intervention may be utilized to address pain management and to promote acceptance of end of life issues.
Guided Meditation
Meditation practices are utilized to improve emotional and spiritual well-being by focusing on internal thought processes. The facilitator will lead an exercise with clients and families to focus on a specific goal and utilize techniques to improve comfort. Each exercise is tailored to the individual to promote the desired outcome.
Guided meditation is simply “meditation with the help of a guide.” It’s one of the easiest ways to enter into a state of deep relaxation and inner stillness, and it’s one of the most powerful ways to eliminate stress and bring about positive personal changes.
Other Services
Other services available free of charge to our hospice clients include:
Body Coding
A technique that assists in identifying and correcting imbalances that can cause emotional and physical problems.
Chiropractor
Proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself.
Art Exploration
Helps people of all ages explore their emotions, improve self esteem, relieve stress, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression and cope with physical illness or disability.
Auricular Therapy
Stimulation of the ear can affect the physical, mental, emotional health of a patient based on the idea that the ear is a micro-system, which reflects the entire body represented on the outer portion of the ear (auricle).
Emotional Freedom Technique
Tapping on meridian end points to clear the emotional and mental patterns that lead to overwhelming emotions or physical ailments.
Hearing Services/Hearing Aide Maintenance
Ear exams, cleanings, hearing aide interventions are available to improve communication and comfort.
Herbalist
Plants and other natural substances are used to improve health, promote healing and prevent and treat illness.
Psych-K
Using a simple body crossover technique, both hemispheres of the brain are engaged and balanced, focusing on a belief one wishes to change. The simple process changes an undesirable belief into one that serves the highest good, improving ones thoughts, behaviors and actions.
Salt Room
Dry salt therapy is a natural treatment to promote better breathing, healthier skin, sounder sleep and improved physical fitness, endurance and overall wellness. Dry salt therapy can also alleviate symptoms of many respiratory and skin conditions.
Sound Healing
A practice that uses vibrations (vocal or instrumental, gongs, tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks) in order to relax the mind and body.
Spiritual Consultant
Attempts to facilitate a broader, more spiritual understanding of any situation or imbalance present in someones life.
