Complementary Therapies in a Palliative Care Setting: The Clinical Experience

Chapter 17: Complementary Therapies in a Palliative Care Setting: The Clinical Experience 

Overview:

• A detailed step-by-step guideline on how to establish a complementary care centre, using the example of Daw House as the main focus
• Description of the influencing factors on changing attitudes towards complementary care
• Methods on how to integrate complementary therapies into nursing care
• Procedural guidelines for aromatic hot towel compression and abdominal massage
• Guideline on how to evaluate complementary care

Description:

This chapter provides a comprehensive insight into the incorporation of various complementary therapies into the hospice and the development of complementary therapy as a model of nursing practice. Described in detail is one interesting treatment used at Daw House, which blends three different types of therapies. The chapter ends with findings of a research project to evaluate complementary care at Daw House.


Topics:

• Introduction
• Summary of contents
• Part 1: Establishing a complementary care centre
• Part 2: Changing attitudes to complementary care
• Part 3: Integration of complementary therapies into nursing care
• Part 4: Evaluating complementary care
• Conclusions: beyond complementary
• References

Speaker / Author:

Rose Osborne

Master in Primary Health Care, Therapeutic Touch, Diploma of Professional Massage and Aromatherapy, Diploma of Applied Science, RN, Diploma of Dental Therapy. Current study: Doctor of Nursing, University of Adelaide.

As a nurse–clinician with twelve years experience in palliative care, Rose currently combines clinical nursing responsibilities with teaching, research and postgraduate studies, demonstrating depth and commitment to clinical nursing practice. With additional qualifications in professional massage and aromatherapy, Rose works passionately towards the promotion of a non-institutional environment and the integration of various therapeutic interventions not commonly used within the current medical and nursing model of care. By working to improve the quality of life of dying persons and their carers, Rose is developing personally as she learns more about the human experience.

Professional Reviews: