Hospice of the Twin Cities Complimentary Therapies

Complimentary Therapies

Our hospice care teams include skilled and caring staff from many disciplines: doctors, nurses, social workers, pastoral and bereavement counselors, certified home health aides, along with dedicated volunteers. Hospice of the Twin Cities also includes Comfort Therapists who provide supportive care and comfort through natural approaches. These therapies add an extra dimension of care to hospice's commitment to nurturing the body, mind, and spirit. These non-invasive, holistic practices do not replace the medical, social, or spiritual care of the hospice team. Rather, they work with the total care of the interdisciplinary team to promote comfort and wholeness for both patients and their families. Though not required or covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurers, the services of Hospice of the Twin Cities Complimentary Therapists are made possible through generous donations.

Hospice of the Twin Cities offers the following types of complimentary therapies:

Music Therapy

Hospice of the Twin Cities is pleased to offer music therapy among its many services. While many find music to be pleasurable and entertaining, the principle goal of music therapy is to effect therapeutic outcomes related to the physical, emotional, social and/or spiritual aspects of patient and family. The board-certified music therapists who provide this service are trained not only in music history and theory, instrumental and vocal competencies; but also in behavioral and social sciences, as well as therapeutic techniques. The entire hospice team assesses their patients and refers those who may benefit to the team's music therapist. The therapist then provides an initial assessment, including intervening with music, observing response and evaluating how patient and/or family may benefit from ongoing music therapy sessions. Hospice of the Twin Cities offers music therapy to all of its patients. It is a therapy which can uniquely and effectively support patients and families as they meet challenges at the end of life.

Pet Therapy

Pet Therapy is the use of trained/certified animals to bring about therapeutic outcomes for the patient. When the hospice patient has a significant history with animals, pet therapy may be a service elected upon admission. An initial assessment is conducted for appropriateness of service. Hospice patients often turn inward and withdraw from loved ones and the world around them as a way to ease the transition towards death. Talking to loved ones might become difficult and painful but interacting with a friendly animal is easy and offers a temporary reprieve. Our therapy dogs are trained and certified by Therapy Dogs International. A therapy dog may provide unconditional love, acceptance and touch to a hospice patient and family that is experiencing so many losses.

Massage Therapy

One of the many services offered to Hospice of the Twin Cities patients is massage therapy. Being bed or wheel chair bound is taxing on the body and vexing on the soul. Massage therapy can ease the physical discomfort many hospice patients feel. It also provides much needed physical contact to a group of people who are often isolated or for whom physical touch has become associated with invasive or painful medical procedures. Certified Massage Therapists deliver massage sessions with expert skills and a heart full of compassion. Our volunteers are trained in accredited massage schools, have additional training in massage for end-of-life and are supervised by a nationally certified massage therapist and instructor.

Hospice cares for the whole person

BODY~MIND~SPIRIT