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Physical Therapy in Hospice and Palliative Care

Patients with a terminal illness who have chosen hospice and palliative care for their remaining months, weeks, and days, are given the opportunity to “Live until they Leave.”  Instead of spending that time in hospital beds surrounded by strangers, they can engage in life with dignity and tranquility.  They can attend special events with their friends and families; or entertain guests in the privacy of their own homes.  They can enjoy outings and gatherings; or they can quietly follow their own personal care routines that bring satisfaction of accomplishment. 

Whatever defines daily living should be within the reach and grasp of hospice patients.

Too frequently, however, patients do not engage in daily activities in or out of their homes.  This occurs repeatedly, not for lack of interest, but for debilitating fears: 

     “What if I lose my balance and fall?” 

     “What if I bump into something and hurt myself?” 

     “What if I spill a beverage and burn myself?” 

     “What if I can’t move around safely and end up confined to my room?”

Those fears can discourage any person from participating in public activities even when they feel “well enough” to venture out of their comfort zone.  And for those in hospice whose remaining time is precious to them and to their loved ones, not participating in life is a disappointing tragedy. 

The fear of falling, the fear of injury, and the fear of confinement often share the same roots: limited range of motion with pain and poor physical coordination.

Physical therapy (PT) in hospice addresses these fear-generating challenges by focusing on how the body works in motion.

Compassion and individualized exercises help the patients move with better control and confidence.  Physical therapy is key in pain management as well.  Ease of motion alleviates stress and strain on joints and tendons which helps diminish inflammation and tenderness.  The less discomfort in moving, the more desire to move. 

The nursing staff at Gifted Hearts Hospice and Palliative Care in Seguin, Texas, implement PT with hospice and palliative care patients in the convenience of their own homes.  During routine home care, the hospice nurses demonstrate and teach many of the therapeutic exercises to the caregivers who assist with ongoing and frequent therapy. 

Areas of focus for PT include:

     balance

     flexibility

     strength

     eye/hand coordination

     fine motor skills

     gross motor skills

     endurance

     range of motion

     massage

Every task that requires movement—sitting, standing, walking, eating, writing—requires more than determination.  It requires conditioning and training.  Physical therapy helps to hone the individual skills needed to accomplish these tasks.

Patients in hospice and palliative care elect to reach their daily activity goals through the application of physical therapy.  And reaching daily goals is vital to quality of life.  Physical therapy in hospice can help terminally ill patients “Live until they Leave” with dignity, positivity, and purpose.

Gifted Hearts Hospice and Palliative Care in Seguin, TX, is a fully staffed facility available to patients who call South Central Texas their home.  It is nestled in the beautiful New Braunfels area as the best hospice near San Antonio, Texas.  It offers palliative care for patients of any age in any stage of illness.  It also offers all four levels of hospice care and maintains its motto: “Live until you Leave.”