Complementary therapies, such as Healing Touch, Massage Therapy, Music Therapy, and Dog Therapy, are not substitutes for traditional health care. Instead, they complement the care prescribed by the health care team.

>> Healing Touch >> Massage Therapy >> Music Therapy >> Therapy Dog

Healing Touch is a noninvasive technique that uses the hands to clear, energize, and balance energy fields affecting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and healing.

Healing Touch can be used to help alleviate pain, anxiety, stress and restlessness. It can also be supportive during the dying process.

If you are interesting in scheduling a Healing Touch session, plese contact your Rice Hospice nurse or social worker. This service is at no cost if arranged for by the Rice Hospice Team.

Massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body with the hands done for therapeutic intent.

Benefits of massage include improving the flow of blood and lymph fluids in the body, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, and decreasing muscle tension and feelings of stress. It helps meet the human need for caring and affirmative touch, and induces the relaxation response.

Please contact your Rice Hospice nurse or social worker to schedule a massage therapy session. Limited massages are available at no cost if arranged for by the Rice Hospice Team.

Music can be used as a healing agent to decrease pain, stress, anxiety and fears. Music can help lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, structure breathing, and enhance lung capacity. The body is naturally rhythmic through the heart beat, pulse, and breathing.

Music therapy can include listening to favorite tapes or CDs, hymns, old love songs, soothing piano music, sounds of nature, classical music, and popular tunes. It can include composing music to express feelings, or singing songs to encourage storytelling. It may involve families singing together. Music can be a powerful tool to provide comfort, promote healing, and to bring families together.

Please contact your Rice Hospice nurse or social worker to schedule a music session. This service is at no cost if arranged for by the Rice Hospice Team.

Therapy Dogs - Canine Care for the Journey

Canine Care for the Journey is the Rice Hospice Therapy Dog Program which provides comfort, support and animal companionship to hospice patients and their families. All dogs accepted into the program are American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizens and are registered with Therapy Dogs Incorporated. Therapy dog handlers are Rice Hospice trained volunteers. Therapy dog visits may reduce loneliness, offer entertainment and distraction, and are often a welcome change from routine.

Please contact your Rice Hospice nurse or social worker to schedule a therapy dog visit. This service is at no cost if arranged for by the Rice Hospice Team. Therapy dogs are currently available in the Montevideo, Ortonville/Graceville, and Willmar areas.