COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES:

Complementary therapies may help patients relieve physical ailments, improve quality of life, and relieve emotional strain that can occur at the end of life.

The Denver Hospice incorporates complementary therapies into each patient’s care, providing him or her at no additional cost. Hospice of Metro Denver’s complementary therapies program include:

Creative Arts Therapies
Creative arts therapies use art, writing and other creative tools for expressing feelings and working through emotions and health issues.

Music Thanatology
Music thanatologists use the voice and music of a harp at bedside as a musical prescription for comfort care.  The music vigil can help relieve physical pain, respiratory distress, agitation and sleeplessness, and help resolve long-held spiritual and emotional issues. The music vigil can serve as a comforting bridge for patients and their loved ones.

Pawprints
Pawprints is The Denver Hospice’s animal-assisted therapy program. A  specially-trained animal and its owner visit patients in conjunction with a hospice social worker as part of symptom management and grief support. 

Art Therapy
Art therapy is a popular form of therapy in which practitioners of The Denver Hospice incorporate drawing, arts and crafts and other art projects into positive exercises to aid the mind, body and spirit.

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses pure essential oils extracted from plants to help relieve a variety of physical and emotional health conditions. Hospice patients particularly benefit from this therapy in treating pain, nausea, depression and anxiety with virtually no side effects.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a focused state of awareness that allows the subconscious mind to receive positive suggestions. Hospice patients can benefit from hypnotherapy to help reduce pain, nausea, anxiety, vomiting, depression and spiritual suffering. Hypnotherapy also helps to promote relaxation, sleep and an overall feeling of comfort and well-being.

Energy work
Energy work is a term for therapies that are based on the concept that the human body is made up of energy fields which can be changed using various techniques to promote wellness. Energy therapies, such as acupuncture, reiki and shiatsu, have their roots in ancient medicine, while others, such as therapeutic touch and polarity therapy, are contemporary therapies based ancient practices.

Massage Therapy
Massage therapy applies pressure to muscles in order to relax them and promote the body’s own ability to heal and a sense of caring, an important part of physical and emotional well-being.