Reiki is Gaining Momentum in the Health Care System
According to a 2012 report from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, an estimated 1.65 million patients received service from hospice in 2011. In a 2004 report, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that nearly 1.4 million people were using home health care services. Couple these statistics, and the sheer numbers of people who fall under these two categories of treatment becomes clear: millions of patients each year choose at-home therapies, be it a hospice home or a personal one.
Beyond the patients, home care and hospice scenarios can affect caregivers. Dealing with terminally ill patients or loved ones can prove traumatic and tumultuous for even the best-prepared caregivers. Though proper medical treatment is paramount for providing care, often the goal of palliative therapy focuses more on comfort than a cure. For people suffering from terminal illness, Reiki may be able to provide that comfort. Furthermore, Reiki can be an important self-practice for caregivers in palliative or hospice fields where grief can sidle up to negative feelings of burnout and fatigue.
As a complementary treatment, Reiki is becoming more and more popular in the spheres of hospice, palliative, and home care. In 2012, the Penn Wissahickon Hospice, part of the greater University of Pennsylvania health system, rolled out a volunteer Reiki program to test its efficacy and results in a hospice setting. Interested volunteers were given guidance and training to graduate as Reiki practitioners in the first degree before performing Reiki sessions tailored to each patient’s individual needs. In exchange for free training, volunteers agreed to give four hours worth of Reiki sessions each month, according to the Penn Medicine News blog.
Source International Reiki Magazine 2015
One of two pilot Reiki programs that year, the hospice volunteer program coincided with the incorporation of Reiki at Abramson Cancer Center, another subsidiary of the University of Pennsylvania health care system. Similarly, hospitals like Lancaster General in Lancaster, Penn., and Care Alternatives hospices (with offices from New Jersey to California), have included Reiki treatment into their overall health initiatives.
I work as a volunteer at Ascend (Formerly Care Alternative)I have worked as a Reiki doing requested visits from family and as 11th hour, when the patient is near passing and family or staff are requesting comfort for family and patient during this very emotional time.
Mission Statement
Ascend Hospice is a Top Hospice and Palliative Care Provider
Ascend Hospice, formerly Care Alternatives, is committed to providing exceptional care and services with integrity and compassion. Founded in 1995, Ascend Hospice is a nondenominational, multicultural hospice and palliative care provider built on the belief that hospice services should reflect the life we live – one lived fully and with dignity. With offices in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri, California and Virginia, the company currently provides care for approximately 850 patients in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, hospitals and private homes. Dedicated to a holistic approach, Ascend Hospice’s expert interdisciplinary teams provide state-of-the art hospice care, including pain control and symptom management through holistic and traditional therapies, as well as emotional support for patients and families.
Website: http://www.AscendHealth.com
Contact Marina McGough: 215-287-4210 or 215-542-2100
