Therapeutic Touch (Hand Massage)

This session will be delivered by Lisa Smith and Louise Brown

As a registered nurse and our lead complementary therapist, Lisa Smith combines her extensive skills and knowledge with her years of experience in teaching complementary therapy for end of life care.

As one of our practice educators, Louise works within the therapies team as a senior physiotherapist. She is passionate and knowledgeable not only about supporting patients in their own home, but also about alternative therapies, touch techniques and effective communication skills, having been trained in all of these. Her goal is for everyone to receive holistic care.

Healthcare professionals, carers and non registered staff working with people at end of life with an interest in providing holistic care and are comfortable working with touch.

This three hour session will cover the following:

• An introduction to Therapeutic touch, its use and application in End of Life Care
• Precautions and contraindications to the use of touch
• Discussion about appropriate oils and lotions
• Learning a simple routine

Supported by the Ambitions Framework (NHS England » Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: A national framework for local action 2021-2026)

Ambition Three:
Maximising comfort and wellbeing
My care is regularly reviewed and every effort is made for me to have the support, care and treatment that might be needed to help me to be as comfortable and as free from distress as possible.”

Ambition Five:
All staff are prepared to care
Wherever I am, health and care staff bring empathy, skills and expertise and give me competent, confident and compassionate care.

A theoretical component covering

• Touch – what it is and why it is important
• How and when to use it
• When not to use it, precautions and contraindication
• Oils and lotions

A practical component

• Learning a simple hand massage routine