The Healing Power of Complementary Therapy: Supporting Patients and Carers

At Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, we understand that end-of-life care is about so much more than medical treatment. It’s about comfort, dignity, and moments of peace. That’s why our Complementary Therapy service plays such a vital role — not just in supporting patients, but also the carers who walk beside them every day.

As we mark Carers Week, we shine a light on how these therapies bring relief, connection, and calm to both patients and their families.

What is Complementary Therapy?

Complementary Therapy includes gentle, non-invasive treatments such as massage, reflexology, Reiki, and aromatherapy. These therapies do not replace medical care, but they work alongside it to promote emotional wellbeing, reduce physical discomfort, and provide a sense of calm when it’s needed most.

Our trained Complementary Therapists offer treatments in the comfort of a patient’s home, helping individuals feel more relaxed, less anxious, and better able to cope with the symptoms and emotional strain of a life-limiting illness.

Benefits for Patients

For those nearing the end of life, Complementary Therapy offers more than just relaxation. It can help to:

• Ease pain, stiffness and breathlessness
• Reduce anxiety and insomnia
• Support emotional expression in a safe, calming space
• Promote a sense of connection and personhood when words may be hard to find

Patients often describe their therapy sessions as moments of stillness — a chance to feel cared for in a holistic, personal way.

Supporting Carers: A Lifeline of Relief

Being a carer is a role full of love, but it can also be incredibly isolating and exhausting. Our Complementary Therapy service recognises this, and extends support to carers too — offering them time to rest, reset and feel seen.

Carers have shared how just a 30-minute massage or reflexology session helped them feel physically and emotionally lighter. In a time that can feel all-consuming, these moments of care can make a profound difference.

One carer told us:

“I didn’t realise how much I needed it until afterwards. It was like someone turned the noise down — I felt calm for the first time in weeks.”

Compassion in Action

Our therapists are skilled not just in touch and technique, but in compassion. They bring warmth and understanding into every home they visit. Whether it’s the soothing rhythm of a hand massage, the quiet of shared space, or simply listening without judgment — these moments bring comfort beyond measure.

Celebrating Carers Week

This Carers Week, we want to say thank you to the thousands of unpaid carers in our community. You are the quiet strength behind so many families, and your wellbeing matters too.

Our Complementary Therapy service is here to support you — just as you support others.

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How to Access the Service

If you are receiving care from Hospice at Home, or if you are a carer for someone who is, you may be able to access our Complementary Therapy service. Please speak to one of our nurses or call our team to find out more.

📞 01228 608942

With every gentle touch, every shared breath, and every quiet moment — we’re here for you.

#CarersWeek #HospiceCare #ComplementaryTherapy #SupportingCarers

Support Our Complimentary Therapy Service
Would you like to make a difference to patients and carers receiving our Complimentary Therapy service? We’ve created a dedicated wishlist of items that will directly support our therapists in delivering this much-valued care.

By purchasing from our wishlist, you’ll be helping us provide comfort, relaxation, and wellbeing to those who need it most.

👉 Browse and donate through our wishlist here

Thank you for your support.