Healing hands at Weldmar

Healing hands are providing massage treatments and reflexology, while senses are being stimulated through aromatherapy, music and art.

The diverse range of complementary health services is available to patients, carers and bereaved people known to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

Teams of therapists and practitioners see around 450 new referrals a year at their base at Hammick House in Poundbury, the Joseph Weld Hospice inpatient unit, Dorchester, Trimar Day Hospice in Weymouth and out in the community.

Lead nurse Elizabeth Baines said her ‘excellent’ team was made up of employed, self-employed and volunteer practitioners – and many regularly volunteer their time and skill to the charity.

She said: “We started with aromatherapy and massage on the community side nine years ago.

“Evaluations proved so successful we continued with that but patients also asked for reflexology and Reiki so over time we added that as well.

“Over the last three years we’ve introduced homeopathy.

“It’s been a similar process with the inpatient unit and day care.”

She added: “If somebody is looking for something that we don’t offer like acupuncture, we can point people in the right direction of credible professional bodies so they can find a trustworthy practitioner.”

Elizabeth, who has a master’s degree in complementary health studies, has worked for the trust for 18 years, including 14 years as a specialist community nurse in North Dorset.

She previously worked in ‘conventional medicine’ as a district nursing sister in Somerset and said she sees ‘both sides’.

Weldmar patients are encouraged to try three sessions.

Elizabeth said: “It might be that they’re experiencing some discomfort and if we can help them relax that helps pain relief drugs to work.

“If we can make them less anxious and improve sleep patterns then that’s a lovely thing.

“The other thing we can do is touch – carers are sometimes afraid to touch their loved ones for fear of hurting them and we can show simple techniques they can use.

“Sometimes a distance can build up and touch can brings back the connection, which is a really special thing to see.”

Elizabeth has developed a form of gentle touch, which some Weldmar volunteers use out in the community, at the Joseph Weld inpatient unit and day hospice to assist people who are dying or in pain.

The therapies aim to complement patients’ conventional treatment.

For carers the treatment can help soothe aches and pains from lifting loved ones or pushing wheelchairs and also provide the invaluable ‘me time’ they often lack.

Homeopathy treats illness through natural remedies derived from plant, mineral and animal sources and can combat fatigue, hot flushes, pain, anxiety and stress.

Music psychotherapy evokes people’s inner feelings through classical music, which is then worked through with a specially-trained therapist.

Rosetta Life artists also help to explore experiences and feelings through video, photography, drama, poetry and fiction.

While Reiki practitioners channel universal life energy through a series of gentle touches on fully-clothed patients to provide relaxation and alleviate stress.

Over the next six weeks a full list of credible complementary therapy associations will be made available on the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust website www.weld-hospice.org.uk

How to show them you care

THE Show Them You Care campaign has raised £4,053.20 since the appeal was launched on February 28 but there is a long way to go to hit the £60,000 target needed to pay for a community nurse for a year.

All the money will be used to fund a nurse for a year and pay for all of their support and expenses.

Crucially, it would mean even more patients and their families receiving all the support they need, when they need it most.

Donate by visiting webpage www.justgiving.com/weldmarnurse Send cheques payable to ‘The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust’ to the Dorset Echo offices at Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XD.