This past week I had the privilege of presenting a program on “Comfort Touch: Complementary Care for the Hospice Patient” at the Clinical Team Conference of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in Denver, CO. In attendance were members of interdisciplinary hospice teams from around the country, including health professionals in the fields of nursing, social work, respiratory therapy, and spiritual care. There were also a couple of massage therapists.
In the hands-on presentation, I was received with enthusiasm, in spite of several technical glitches at the conference. These glitches interfered with the printing of my handouts and quality of the recording system—making handouts and recordings of my presentation unavailable. At first, I was mildly dismayed. After all, I had done my part to prepare carefully. But soon, the expectations of the audience before me came into focus. Here was a group of health professionals, who didn’t care about “high tech.” They were there to learn something about “high touch.” And that suited me just fine.
It was 20 years ago this September that I completed the hospice volunteer training in Boulder, Colorado, and began the journey that has led to the development of Comfort Touch as a bodywork modality that is safe, appropriate and effective, even for the most fragile of client, those with terminal illness. While I am humbled by the many patients and their families who have shared their lives with me, I am also most appreciative for the clinical team members and volunteers who provide direct patient care.
The core philosophy of hospice is best stated by the founder of the modern hospice movement, Dame Cicely Saunders, “You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.” Comfort Touch, as a complementary therapy for hospice patients, is consistent with that philosophy. When we touch those who are in physical or emotional pain, or challenged by limited functionality, we offer something that directly contributes to the quality of the patient’s life.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I have been involved with massage with Hospice for about a year now and I love it and so do the people I massage. I’m so happy that Hospice has realized how important it is to those in their “last days” to recieve caring touch!
October 8th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Do you offer a “Comford Touch” class online? I work with paraplegics and others in nursing home situations and would like to be able to really affect those I touch.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Dear Mary Rose:
I just love your teachings and wonderful sharings about the loving kind of touch.
I’m looking forward to volunteer in Hospice, but I would like to know if you are planning to do a live training or workshop in the Northeast area, I’m 90 miles east of Cleveland Ohio. I would love to have you here sometime, I’m sure that we could find a place for you to come and share your knowledge.
I lost my husband last year and I understand perfectly how important touching is for the wellbeing of the body, mind and soul, as I am a massage practitioner, I related to the subject.
Thank you very much for all that you do!
Loving Light.
Hilda Jarvis
October 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
What is involved in training to teach Comfort Touch?? I will be doing a one hour touch training for hospice teams this next week. I would love to learn about what you did.
Mary Malinski, RN, LMT
503-684-6296
Portland, Oregon
Hi Mary,
Give me a call (303-651-9375) and we can talk more about this. To start with it might be useful for to view my DVD on Comfort Touch, which is available on my web-site.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
How true.
The way Comfort Touch meets the needs that so many patients cannot even voice continues to leave me in awe.
I think of the technique as a tool and I have to say that this one connects the therapist and the patient profoundly. It has the capactity to create the sacred space, perfectly fitting to the moment.
I can never thank you enough, Mary Kathleen, for bringing this teaching together and sharing it with so many.
October 16th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Hilda,
I don’t have plans right now to come to the northeast, but I am certainly open to the possibility. If you are interested in organizing something, we can talk. Or maybe there is a local massage school or hospice that would be interested in sponsoring me to come. You can call me at 303-651-9375 or e-mail directly to rosevine@comforttouch.com.
Take good care,
Mary Rose
October 16th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Dear Carolyn,
I appreciate the work you do. I do offer a Home Study Course in Comfort Touch. It uses the Comfort Touch textbook and DVD that are available on my web-site: http://www.comforttouch.com. The course is not a substitute for hands-on instruction, but it would give you lots of useful information that could be helpful in your work situation.
If you are interested in the course feel free to call me at 303-651-9375 or e-mail me directly at rosevine@comforttouch.com.
Take good care,
Mary Rose
October 16th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Sandra,
Yes, hospices in general understand the value of nurturing touch, as it is consistent with the palliative (comfort care) measures that are integral to hospice philosophy. The challenge in the world of massage therapy, is that we adapt our intention and techniques to be safe and appropriate for this very special population, while at the same time paying attention to our own physical and emotional self care.
All the best to you,
Mary
October 30th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Hi Mary Rose,
I presented a Comfort Touch presentation at the Midwest Regional End Of Life Care Conference in Kansas City on Oct. 26th. Once the group got over the shock that we would be practicing on each other it went realy great. Presenting Comfort Touch to people who have participated in hospice care for many years is like preaching to the choir. They totaly understood the value that Comfort Touch provides to the hospice patient. There is a strong desire in the midwest to expand the use of bodywork to compliment the delivery of hospice care. I was asked by 4 or five participants if I could do a training at there hospice. Not sure if I am ready for that but I refered them to your new home study program.
Thanks for all your good work.
Ron Baggett
rbaggett@northcarehospice.org
November 17th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Thank you for getting the word out there. Yes, there is an ever expanding openness to complementary therapies in hospice, as well as other medical settings. It is up to us let others know that this is specialized work for these special populations of patients, requiring careful training; yet it is work that everyone can enjoy.
And thanks for referring people to the textbook and homestudy course. I am getting great feedback on the course.
Take good care!
Mary Rose
rosevine@comforttouch.com
http://www.comforttouch.com