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Hospice Care of the Lowcountry

843.706.2296 Contact Us

Donate

  • About
    • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Meet Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Support Us
      • Donate
      • Giving Societies
      • Legacy Giving
      • Heritage Charity Events
    • What is Hospice?
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Statement
    • Meet Our Physicians
    • Volunteers
    • Our Partners
  • Services
    • Our Services
    • Hospice Care
    • Palliative Care
    • Counseling & Bereavement
    • HOS-Pets
    • Pet Peace of Mind
    • The Harper Project
    • Massage Therapy
    • We Honor Veterans
  • Physicians
  • Events
    • Hos-Pets Calendar Contest
    • Yacht Hop 2023
  • Blog
  • News
    • Press
    • Newsletters
    • Testimonials
    • Resources
    • Gallery
  • Webinars
  • Contact

Massage Therapy

hospice massage therapy

Our Massage Therapist meets people where they are in their experience and applies a highly individualized massage treatment to comfort and support patients, their caregivers and families.

Wherever you are in your journey, managing pain, anxiety/stress, fatigue, nausea or depression, massage can help.

Patients in hospice and palliative care are likely dealing with a variety of issues and massage therapy has been proven to help manage many of them. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, this includes providing a significant improvement for pain, anxiety and health-related quality of life for those who need to manage their pain.

Massage therapy is a nurturing part of the end-of-life experience, for many reasons, including the following:

Massage provides peace: The end-of-life process can be very physically demanding. While pain-relieving treatments and medications can be somewhat effective, they can also place additional strain on the body. Hospice massage acts as a natural treatment that can help patients get the peace they deserve.

The universal language of touch: While full-blown massage treatments may not be possible when a patient is in a fragile state, “attentive touch” can ease discomfort wherever it is needed. This may be a gentle foot massage or scalp massage. Ultimately, attentive touch can reduce stress and anxiety, allowing the patient to fully relax.

Calm and trust: The goal of hospice massage therapists is to just be present for the patient. They also serve as an anchor for family and other caregivers.

Physical benefits: The benefits of massage therapy range from stabilized heart rate, lower blood pressure, endorphin release, and eased depression, fear and anxiety. Overall the patient experiences a feeling of being cared for.

What Happens During a Massage Therapy Session

Research is showing us that massage has positive effects on symptom control and can improve the well-being and sleep of patients and their caregivers.

According to the Mayo Clinic, when a patient receives a massage, their muscles and soft tissues relax. In addition, their entire well-being has a chance to release anxiety and just be present in the moment. With this relaxation comes relief from pain and a sense of well-being. This allows the patient to experience greater peace and the ability to cope with the road ahead. 

With this sense of well-being and relief from pain, the heart and breathing rates slow, blood pressure goes down, production of stress hormones decreases, and muscles relax. This is called a “relaxation response,” according to the University of Minnesota. Relaxation response also increases serotonin, a chemical in the body that affects emotions and thoughts. It may also decrease a number of physical effects of stress, such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Digestive disorders
  • Psychological issues

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Hospice Care of the Lowcountry

We help our valued patients and their families experience the fullness and dignity they deserve, even as they face the anxieties associated with the end of life.
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Contact

[email protected]
PO Box 3827
Bluffton, SC 29910
843.706.2296

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