Making a real difference with complementary therapies – North Devon Hospice

From easing someone’s pain to promoting a sense of calm, Hospice to Home team member Hayley explains how complementary therapies are making a real difference to patients out in the community.

Have you ever been treated to a relaxing massage? Or how about a soothing Reiki session?

If so, you’ll know how much of a difference these therapies can make not just physically but mentally as well by helping to ease pain, reduce stress, and promote a sense of calm.

Earlier this summer, a colleague and I with existing therapy skills were lucky enough to extend our training and work with our complementary therapies coordinator, Mandy, to bring these two types of complementary therapy (massage therapy and Reiki therapy) to patients out in the community.

As well as giving those who can’t physically come to the hospice a chance to enjoy these wonderful treatments, we also wanted to make our care even more holistic and help patients coming to the end of their lives feel more comfortable and settled at home during the last part of their journey.

Just last week, I visited a patient at home who was experiencing a significant amount of pain. As well as becoming agitated due to feeling uncomfortable, he was also very anxious, as were his wife and friend at seeing him so unsettled.

After liaising with the GP to organise some conventional pain relief, I offered to give the patient a session of Reiki to see if this would help him feel more comfortable and ease the tension he was so obviously feeling. He agreed.

When giving Reiki, we will ask patients to sit or lie comfortably in a peaceful environment. We then place our hands gently on or over the patient in a series of positions around their body, detecting and alleviating energy flow imbalances.

During this therapy, most people experience a warming, soothing, and relaxing sensation that helps to reduce pain and leave them feeling calm and refreshed.

After just 30 minutes of this soothing therapy, the difference in this patient was astounding. Not only had the discomfort he was initially feeling disappeared from his face but there was a noticeable change in his whole body, which was far more relaxed than when I arrived.

His pain and anxieties had melted away and I was able to leave him and his loved ones feeling calmer after what had been a distressing morning for them all.

That afternoon, I called the family to check in on the patient and see how he was feeling. They explained that since my visit, not only had remained settled and out of pain, but his anxieties had also been cleared, so much so that the emergency medication that was organised for him earlier in the day was no longer needed – a fantastic result for everyone involved.

To be able to help patients in this way and provide lasting comfort through these very special therapies is a truly humbling experience and something that has only been made possible with your support.

Thank you for helping to bring relief to people across North Devon at a time when they really do need it most.