Specialized Therapies & Support Services

Music Therapy

Music has the distinct ability to transcend language and typical human connections. It can trigger emotions and help people find comfort during challenging times. Community Hospice & Palliative Care offers a full-time music therapist to meet with patients, upon request from their care team.

According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is "the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.”

At Community Hospice & Palliative Care, we use music therapy to achieve a variety of physical, emotional, spiritual and social goals for patients seeking relief from pain and other challenging conditions. We employ a full-time music therapist and music therapy interns to meet with patients and families. Consultations are available by request from the care team; a physician order is not required.

Massage Therapy

For patients who experience muscle tension, anxiety, restlessness, shortness of breath and other conditions, massage can provide numerous benefits. We offer on-staff licensed massage therapists to meet with patients and assess the possible benefits of these therapies.

Our licensed massage therapists offer a variety of complementary services, from gentle to deep-tissue massage and Comfort Touch therapy. The goals of these treatments can be many: to enhance relaxation; reduce pain, muscle tension, anxiety, fear and depression; and improve circulation, flexibility, mental alertness, breathing and quality of sleep. Most massage requests do not require a physician order.

Pet Therapy

Pet therapy is another way Community Hospice & Palliative Care brings comfort and smiles to patients and their families. Since 1996, volunteer therapy dogs and their owners have played an important role on our care teams.

Pets warm our hearts and bring smiles during difficult times. For many of us, pets are a part of the family. That’s how we view our special pet therapy volunteers and their owners at Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

Pet therapy sessions are available on request and can be made through any member of a patient’s care team. Our therapy dogs can travel to most care settings, including private homes, long-term care and our Centers for Caring.

For more information about our program or to become a pet therapy volunteer, please call 904.407.5204.

Pet Peace of Mind^®

People and their pets share a close bond and provide comfort to each other. This can be especially true with the diagnosis of a serious illness. Community Hospice & Palliative Care recognizes this unique bond and offers Pet Peace of Mind, a program to keep these loving relationships intact.

Pet Peace of Mind^® keeps dogs, cats and their owners together and allows patients to complete their end-of-life journey without worrying about their pet’s current or future needs. The initiative provides volunteer-based pet care services, including walking, clean-up assistance, financial support with routine veterinary care for patients facing financial hardship, assistance with pet food delivery, transportation to veterinary appointments, fostering, boarding and more. If necessary, the program also can help find new homes for pets that can no longer be cared for by their owner.

For more information or to volunteer with Pet Peace of Mind, please call 904.407.5204.

Respite Care

Respite care provides patient families with a brief period of rest from full-time caregiving duties. While loved ones receive respite care from professional caregivers, families can travel, run errands or participate in a variety of activities to refresh and renew themselves.

Caring for a loved one with advanced illness can prove to be overwhelming on many levels. Not only does the caregiver often forgo cherished activities and relationships to provide care, but he or she can neglect their own health and put themselves at risk for caregiver burnout.

Respite care is designed to give family caregivers a needed break while professional caregivers assume care of their loved one for a short time—usually up to five days.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care offers respite to family caregivers upon request, in consultation with the patient’s care team.