Understand the Unique Benefits Of Massage, Art, Music, and Pet Therapies
Hospice is a comprehensive healthcare benefit that puts your physical, emotional, and spiritual health first. However, choosing home hospice doesn’t mean that you can’t explore additional techniques and therapies. You should feel free to find ways to enrich and enhance your quality of life. It’s your journey. You deserve the opportunity to seek out additional assistance that meets every one of your needs.
These complementary therapies are not a substitute for hospice; however, they are proven to deliver comfort, relaxation, and even pain relief:
- Massage therapy
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Pet therapy
How Massage Therapy Can Help During Hospice
Massage offers many benefits, including stress relief, reduced muscle soreness and pain, and relaxation. Although a hospice-ordered physical therapist can help with these symptoms, you may wish to explore further assistance, especially if massage has been useful for you in the past.
You can search for your own massage therapist who is trained to work in the hospice setting to ensure you’re getting therapy that is suitable for your condition.
Music Therapy
Engaging with music is one way that you can use creativity to reduce stress, open up about your emotions, and feel connected.
- What is music therapy? With the help of a trained music therapist, you’ll listen to or even create music with the purpose of increasing your well-being. The benefits of music therapy are well documented and include pain relief, stress management, and help with expressing emotions. Music therapy is open to anyone. You don’t need any other prior musical experience to benefit from this therapy.
Art Therapy
Art therapy can also help you tap into the creative part of yourself to gain insight and relief. Much like music therapy, you can benefit without having any special talent or knowledge of art.
- What is art therapy? A trained art therapist can guide you through the process of creating art to express yourself, increase positive emotions, lessen anxiety and depression, and reduce the severity of your symptoms.
In addition to hospice, you may find that artistic expression is helpful to you. Remember, hospice doesn’t always mean “you’re at the end.” This time can be an opportunity to discover new horizons and try new things.
How Pet Therapy Can Help You During Home Hospice Care
Pet therapy is another helpful way to enhance your well-being during hospice.
- What is pet therapy? Pet therapy is an interaction between you and a trained therapy animal, such as a cat or dog, to create feelings of well-being. Therapy pets provide companionship and comfort, and they are available to visit you while you receive care from a hospice nurse and the rest of your hospice team.
UCLA’s People-Animal Connection program cites several emotional and physical outcomes from interacting with animals, including reduced isolation and loneliness, lower blood pressure, relaxation, and less physical pain.
More Complementary Therapies Available Today
Music, art, pet, and massage therapies aren’t the only complementary therapies you can explore. These therapies also can be beneficial while receiving home hospice care:
- Yoga
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy
- Reiki
- Supplements and herbs
Searching For Complementary Therapies
If you’re searching on your own, look for therapists who are licensed and trained, and ask them about their work with those receiving hospice; otherwise, that therapist may not be a good fit.
You may want to search for a complementary therapist using an official resource, such as an association, like the American Music Therapy Association, which is dedicated to connecting patients with music therapists. Therapy-specific organizations provide resources to help you understand a particular therapy and find a qualified practitioner in your area so you can get help quickly and effectively and even share this information with your hospice team.
Always Ask Your Hospice Team About Complementary Therapies
Ensure that you discuss the therapies you’re interested in with your hospice nurse and doctor. You want to check that the therapy you’ve chosen doesn’t pose any risks to your health and that it aligns with your care plan.
If you and your hospice team see the benefit of exploring complementary therapies, you can get started by asking your hospice provider for recommendations or help coordinating these services. You can also share resources like association websites with your home hospice care provider if they are unfamiliar with the therapy you are pursuing.
An excellent hospice team will be understanding and encouraging about your desire to try complementary therapies. Ultimately, they want you to experience this phase of life as fully as possible.
