Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care’s Complementary Therapies, support traditional medical treatment to ease pain, control symptoms and increase the quality of life.

Complementary Therapies are not funded by insurance but are sustained through donations from the community to our Foundation and performed by Volunteers.

Touch Therapy incorporates hand and foot massage with essential oils, aromatherapy and other types of touch modalities (Reiki and Comfort Touch) to help with a patient’s pain and stress.  Trained Volunteers in this program offer the physical and emotional benefits of human touch. These volunteers are available on a regular basis to assist patients wherever they reside.

Pet Therapy utilizes certified pet therapy teams, to offer a special therapy that can reduce physical pain, loneliness and release calming endorphins (oxytocin) in patients; this therapy also has four paws.  All visits are one-on-one interactions that are offered in our inpatient facility, long-term care facilities and in patient’s homes upon request. Visits last according to the patient’s and family’s needs. Pet therapy teams are also often requested for events in our community.  Other animals such as cats, birds, llamas and rabbits can be certified, but we currently only have dogs in our program.

Soothing Sounds volunteers are local musicians and singers who use their talents to create a musical environment for patients and their loved ones. Volunteers offer music regularly at the inpatient unit, and occasionally in patient’s homes or facilities.  The program currently includes volunteer guitarists, pianists, harpists, and a singing group, the Threshold Singers.  Also available are music genres specifically selected by the patient or family and loaded onto an iPod or various CDs from our music library.

Inpatient Care Unit Volunteer, provide companionship to patients, greet visitors, answers call lights, help with meals, stock supplies, refill water/ice, distribute snacks or handmade blankets, empty trash, transport patients, straighten common areas, and assist staff with duties as assigned.

Volunteers promote a special relationship between volunteers, patients and families based on spirituality. Volunteers primary visit patients at the inpatient unit.

Provide the much-needed and requested, companionship and support in homes, assisted living and long-term care facilities. Requests can include; reading a book, light housekeeping, playing cards, shopping, or simply being a presence to listen.

Allows volunteers to contribute without direct patient involvement.

Assist office staff with various administrative needs. This can include filing, assisting at the front desk, stocking, mailings, organizing and much more.

Assist with events, mailings and other special projects.

Volunteers offer a unique opportunity to provide support to patients who have served our community in the Military. Veteran to Veteran visits, Community events, presentation of flag pins and certificates, are a few of the ways our Veterans are supported.

Provides a comforting presence to a patient who is actively dying. Provides support to a family who needs a break or cannot be with the patient. Provides support to the facility where the patient resides. So No One Dies Alone.

Volunteers use their sewing, knitting, and crocheting talents to make neck and arm pillows, busy mats, lap blankets, quilts and much more. These donations are always needed and always appreciated by the patients we serve.

We are proud to partner with Safe Place for Pets, they provide peace of mind for terminally ill patients with pets. They provide loving foster care and forever home placement.