Volunteers

We look forward

to meeting you

at the centre.

Southern Adelaide Palliative Services

Incorporating Daw HouseRepatriation General Hospital

700 Goodwood Road, Daw Park SA 5041

Tel: 08 8275 1732 Fax: 08 8277 4957

www.rgh.sa.gov.au

VOLUNTEERSAll therapists are volunteers working with, andcomplementing mainstream medical care. It is acooperative effort based on the needs of patientsand their families. Volunteers are available to assistyou and are happy to guide you in your choices ofappropriate therapies and/or offer a listening ear.

Relax

Feel free to come in, sit quietly in our lounge or chatwith our staff. Have a cup of coffee or try our herbalteas while browsing our resource material andinformation brochures.

Funding

The provision of this service to patients and carersrelies entirely on donations for funding.

Your donation will enable us to continue toprovide this valuable service. We suggest aminimum donation of $10 for individual therapies(commercial rates are around $55 per hour).

Staffing

The centre is staffed with a coordinator, who is aregistered nurse, and volunteers with skills andqualifications in complementary therapies. Weensure our practitioners have training, qualificationsand experience in treating palliative clients in a safeand appropriate manner.

Feel free to ask a practitioner anything that will helpyou decide whether they are the right professional towork with you.

For more information

If you have any questions or needs not answeredin this brochure, please feel free to contactThe Relaxation Centre on:

Phone: (08) 8275 1732

DAW HOUSE HOSPICE FOUNDATIONPlease support the work of the Relaxation Centreby forwarding your donation to:

Daw House Hospice Foundation Inc.700 Goodwood Road, Daw Park SA 5041Tel: 08 8275 1142

RelaxationCentre

Therapies to SupportMedical Care

Southern Adelaide Palliative Services

SupportSUPPORTIVE THERAPIES

Southern Adelaide Palliative Services isproud of the quality care it provides topatients, families and carers.

Our Relaxation Centre offers a range of therapeuticexperiences known as Complementary Therapies(a term used to describe treatments employedalongside, or integrated with, orthodox medicaltreatment). These therapies aim to augment health,healing and wellbeing, enhancing traditional medicalcare.

Why use complementary therapies -

• to promote relaxation;

• to alleviate anxiety;

• to reduce depression;

• to alleviate symptoms, such as painbreathlessness, constipation, diarrhoea,nausea, fatigue, poor appetite;

• to improve sleep pattern;

• to reduce stress and tension;

• to reduce psychological distress/provideemotional support;

• to improve well being and quality of life;

• to support the patient in the dying process.

ServicesTherapies Therapeutic Touch: A holistic therapy based on theassumption that health and well-being are reflected inbalanced symmetrical energy fields. The practitioneruses it to enhance client comfort and health.

Healing: An ancient practice that has been used forthousands of years. It aims to promote better healthby channeling energy through the healer to thepatients.

Relaxation Techniques: Offered in various formsto enable people to find the technique right for them.Meditation, guided imagery and visualisation are waysto promote relaxation and restore balance. It can alsohelp us to understand ourselves and to acceptsituations.

Beauty Therapies: Facials, pedicure and manicureare a pampering and relaxing experience, whichincreases self-esteem and the feeling of well-being.

Art: Patients and families are offered the opportunityto use art materials and methods to promote a senseof well-being. A safe, comfortable space is createdwhere stories can be told, feelings expressed,journeys explored with the support of an experiencedfacilitator. Anyone can access this resource – noskills necessary.

Therapeutic Music: A gentle non-intrusive way ofoffering support, comfort and reassurance. Musiccan be used to distract from pain and enhancerelaxation and sleep. Memories recalled by musicoften facilitate conversations with family and friends.Song writing and musical collections leave treasuredmemories.

WE OFFER:Therapeutic Massage: A system of treatment of thesoft tissue of the body involving stroking, kneadingand applying gentle pressure to parts of the body.Massage is used for pain relief and to aid relaxationand for more general health improvement.

Aromatherapy: Uses the healing properties ofessential oils, extracted from plants, to improvehealth. Essential oils can be used in different waysincluding massage, inhalations and creams pluslotions. They can be calming, relaxing, uplifting orenergising.

Reflexology: Based on the principle that certainpoints on the feet and hands, called reflex points,correspond to various parts of the body and thatby applying pressure to these points a practitionercan help release tensions and encourage the body’snatural healing process.

Craniosacral Therapy: A gentle treatment whichinvolves a practitioner applying very light touch to thebody with the aim of encouraging the body’s ownhealing process.

Bowen Therapy: Known as the gentle healer,empowering the body’s own healing resourcesachieve balance and harmony. Experience thisin a lying or sitting position, clothing optional.

Reiki: A method of healing, originating in Japan, thatmeans universal life energy. The Reiki practitioneruses this energy to encourage the body to heal itself.