Music Therapy
Music affects us on many different levels. It can touch the mind, body and spirit simultaneously. Music promotes relaxation and has been shown to reduce the perception of pain and enhances physical comfort. Music therapy can alleviate anxiety and stress, as well as being a means for expressing deep emotion. This can allow someone to review life’s joys and sorrows as well as creating positive interactions between people. All HPCNC patients are offered the opportunity to receive complementary music therapy that is performed by a board certified Music Therapist.
Animal Assisted Therapy
Many hospice patients receive comfort from caregivers who don’t say a word. Therapy animals can bring joy and relaxation to patients from their very presence. HPCNC offers all patients complimentary Animal Assisted Therapy provided by the Delta Society approved dogs and their human partners. Volunteers with the Delta Society visit patients in their homes, nursing homes and in our In-Patient Unit.
Massage Therapy
Hospice patients may improve the quality of their lives by taking advantage of complementary massage therapy. HPCNC offers a complementary massage each month to all our patients. Massage therapy is performed by a certified massage therapist. Massages may benefit patients by improving circulation, promote relaxation and reduce muscle tension. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, recent clinical research shows that massage therapy is more effective for chronic back pain than other complementary therapies. Massage therapy also promotes relaxation and alleviates the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients as well as stimulating the brain to produce more endorphins.
Comfort Touch
Comfort Touch (also called Healing Touch) is a form of alternative therapy that Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado has found to be useful and effective in a patients care. Comfort Touch involves one or more trained therapists working on the human energy field of both the patient and therapist (s). In hospice, our goal is to provide comfort and improved well-being for our patients. During a Comfort Touch treatment session, the patient’s energy is sensed by the therapists with their hands, usually conducted a few inches over the patient’s body. Typically, patients are reclining (in a bed, massage table or a recliner chair) during the session and remain comfortably clothed. It is never painful and is non-invasive.
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Programs & Services 
