Hospice and Palliative Care Massage

Hospice, palliative care and the accompanying massage is about providing comfort and dignity to an individual at the end of life. Its goal is to provide the highest quality of life possible for the client during their remaining time. Massage has been shown to help decrease anxiety, agitation, pain and joint stiffness, which many hospice clients experience. It improves the client’s quality of life by increasing overall relaxation.

A 2014 study on massage therapy integrated into palliative care at a VA care facility found statistically significant decreases in pain intensity and anxiety levels, as well as increases in relaxation and inner peace of patients.

Research has shown that massage therapy can provide relaxation, as well as help alleviate these conditions:

• Pain

• Anxiety

• Difficulty sleeping

• Depression and anxiety

• Stress

• Nausea

• Fatigue

Hospice massage is usually performed in a home or care facility setting. The client may be sitting in a chair or laying in their bed. It uses slow, light and gentle Swedish massage strokes, including static holds, to help the central nervous system calm and to help reduce pain. It can also help promote sleep. Reiki may be incorporated into the session at the client’s request. Every hospice patient is in a different place on their journey so each session is tailored to the individual. A session can range anywhere from a full-body massage to simply holding a hand with the overarching goal being to provide comfort without doing harm. Hospice massage meets the individual where they are at that moment.