Complementary therapies and special programs at Promise Hospice include grief counseling and support groups, music enjoyment, healing touch, massage therapy, and Pet Therapy.

These special therapies and programs are not substitutes for traditional health care. Instead, they enhance and complement the care prescribed by the healthcare team.

• Healing Touch
• Massage Therapy
• Music Enjoyment
• Grief Support

Healing Touch

Healing Touch is a noninvasive technique that uses the hands to clear, energize, and balance energy fields affecting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and healing. It can help reduce pain, anxiety, stress, and restlessness. It can also be supportive during the dying process.

To schedule a Healing Touch session, or to learn more, please contact your Promise Hospice nurse or social worker. This service is at no cost if arranged for by the Promise Hospice team.

Massage Therapy

Massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body with the hands done for therapeutic intent. Benefits of massage include improving the flow of blood and lymph fluids in the body; reducing heart rate and blood pressure; and, decreasing muscle tension and feelings of stress. It helps meet the human need for caring and affirmative touch, and induces the relaxation response.

Please contact your Promise Hospice nurse or social worker to schedule a massage therapy session. Limited massages are available at no cost if arranged for by the Promise Hospice team.

Music Enjoyment

Music can be used as a healing agent to decrease pain, stress, anxiety and fears. Music can help lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, structure breathing, and enhance lung capacity. The body is naturally rhythmic through the heart beat, pulse, and breathing.

Music can include listening to favorite tapes or CDs, hymns, old love songs, soothing piano music, sounds of nature, classical music, and popular tunes. It can include composing music to express feelings, or singing songs to encourage storytelling. It may involve families singing together. Music can be a powerful tool to provide comfort, promote healing, and to bring families together.

Please contact your Promise Hospice nurse or social worker to schedule a music session. This service is at no cost if arranged for by the Promise Hospice Team.

Grief Support

Each family is supported after the death of their loved one for more than a year. This may include one-on-one visits from volunteers, support groups – especially near the holidays, and counseling for adults, as well as children.