At the end of your senior’s life, it sometimes becomes important to manage her symptoms in non-traditional ways. End-of-life care providers are experienced in helping you to find the solutions that work the best for your senior’s situation.

Art Therapy

Art therapy gives your senior a way to explore and express how she’s feeling, even if she can’t put that feeling into words. It can also be an awful lot of fun. Art therapy can take a variety of different formats, so even if your aging adult feels as if she doesn’t have the motor skills to make art, she might very well be surprised.

Aromatherapy

The basics of aromatherapy have been around for thousands of years. It involves using essential oils to manage symptoms and to improve various conditions. Your senior might find relief from symptoms such as nausea or even experience a reduction in anxiety or insomnia. There are tons of ways to use oils, even if your senior is sensitive to smells.

Massage Therapy and Reflexology

Many seniors at the end of their lives find that they experience a great deal of muscle pain and soreness. Massage therapy can help to loosen up and release pain and tension in those muscles. Reflexology, which involves specific pressure on the feet, hands, or ears, can also help to relieve pain and muscle tension.

Reiki

If your aging adult is experiencing pain but doesn’t feel comfortable with anyone manipulating her muscles and joints, Reiki might be a better option. Reiki is hands-off energy healing that can help your senior with a variety of ailments and concerns.

Music Therapy

For more passive assistance, music therapy might be the way to go. Listening to music can help your senior to experience far less anxiety and can help her to relax. The music can give your senior something to focus on besides pain or discomfort. This can be invaluable.

Acupressure or Acupuncture

Acupuncture and acupressure both use specific pressure points throughout the body to manage pain and other symptoms. Acupuncture uses needles while acupressure uses gentle but firm pressure on those same points.

Working with end-of-life care providers can help you and your elderly family member to access some or all of these different treatments.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering end-of-life care in New Jersey, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (609) 227-2400.