'It's change my life'

ONE of the primary aims of palliative care – the care of people living with life-threatening illness – is to improve the quality of life of the patient. Eve MacFarlane explains how Hospiscare is using complementary therapies to make a real difference to the lives of terminally ill people. Picture: STONE

HOSPISCARE provides care and support to people living with life-threatening illness in Exeter, mid and east Devon. Care is provided in the community by specialist nurses who visit patients in their own homes, in the hospice where there is an inpatient unit and a daycare centre and in the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The Hospiscare team treats every patient as an individual, tailoring care to each person’s needs. By relieving the impact of pain and symptoms, they help people to feel more comfortable and get on with their lives. Just as importantly, they aim to ‘take the fear out’ of people’s situation and help them find peace of mind. And complementary therapies have an important role in both of these.


TOUCHING:
Hospiscare’s complementary therapies coordinator, working at Exeter hospice.

As Cass Woolner, Hospiscare’s complementary therapies coordinator says: "Massage, aromatherapy and reflexology are an integral part of Hospiscare’s service. The therapies, used alongside medical treatment, can really make a difference by relieving stress, raising the spirits, revitalising the mind and providing comfort to the body by easing some of the distressing effects of illness."

Some of the benefits of the complementary therapy service are very physical.

"An abdominal massage of the large intestine can provide almost instant relief from constipation, which is a painful problem for many terminally ill patients as a result of drugs, combined with immobility and a poor diet. It is such a simple technique that patients can be taught to do it themselves," says Cass.

"Lymphoedema - swelling which often occurs in the legs and feet - is a common side effect of cancer. Massage can help relieve the swelling and encourage circulation."

Aromatherapy oils also have very practical benefits.

"Ginger helps to relieve nausea, a common side-effect of radiotherapy treatment for cancer, and lavender helps people sleep," says Cass. "We mix up different lotions using aromatherapy oils, which are given to patients and their carers to take home with them. Tea tree and peppermint make an excellent mouthwash for treating oral thrush and other mouth infections and peppermint and chamomile make a foot lotion for treating athlete’s foot."

However, Cass believes the benefits are far more wide-reaching.

"Many people living with life-threatening illness have a need for the caring and loving touch of gentle hands and the feelings that massage conveys: warmth, comfort, pleasure and safety," she says.

"Terminally ill patients often have lots of unpleasant treatments, which leave them feeling vulnerable. To have some time out and give them positive touch - something caring and gentle - can mean so much."

Cass remembers a young woman she used to visit:

"She lived on her own and was very isolated. I treated her in her own home for an hour a week. She told me that the treatment and the caring approach made her feel whole again. It helped her get back in touch with herself."

Sue Huxham, a volunteer therapist at Hospiscare agrees. She says:
"One patient told me, ‘You always make me feel whole again.’ I can’t stop people dying, but I can make them feel better and bring pleasure into their lives."

About a year ago, Sue heard on the radio that Hospiscare needed volunteer therapists. Since then, she has been providing aromatherapy, massage and reflexology to patients in the daycare centre at the hospice every Wednesday.

"I find it inspirational," she says. "There is an assumption that when people are diagnosed with cancer that they will die soon, but it’s not the case. I see people here who are living with cancer. I learn from them and it makes me look at my own life differently."

Sue also likes the autonomy that patients have at Hospiscare.

"It’s all about listening to the patient," she says. "If they don’t want a treatment, they don’t have to have it. We have complete respect for them as an individual. But most people have one treatment, and then they’re hooked!"

For Sue and Cass, it’s all about improving patient’s quality of life. As one patient said:
"The therapy gives me something to look forward to: something nice in the daily round of unpleasant treatment. In short, it makes me feel human again."



WANT TO KNOW MORE?
* Hospiscare is looking for new volunteers to join its complementary therapy team. If
you would like to donate some time to Hospiscare, Cass would love to hear from you. Call her on 07890 263805, or 01392 688064.

* Hospiscare needs to raise £1.6 million from the local community every year to provide its service. If you would like to make a donation contact the fundraising office on 01392 688021.