Comforting Choices

Hospice of Holland’s Comforting Choices program offers additional options to assist with managing pain, controlling symptoms and promoting emotional well being.

Artistic Adventure: Using artistic media to provide and promote enjoyment, comfort, interaction and expression of feelings.

Everyone has a level of creativity! Charcoal pencil, crayon, marker, oil pastel, printmaking, watercolor pencil, luma and watercolor paint are on hand for your use.

Make personalized cards for family members or friends. Leave a legacy by decorating a recipe card and writing in your favorite family recipe. Volunteers are also available to help you explore the creative process. The sky’s the limit with this one, allow yourself to explore using artistic media!

Pet-a-Pet Therapy: A pet visit may allow patients and their families the opportunity to express feelings, experience the unconditional love that pets provide and give the opportunity to reminisce about their own pets.

Dog is man’s best friend right? Allow Hospice's favorite fury friends to warm your heart and soul during a pet visit.  Relax yourself by petting their soft fu, or just enjoy the company their presence can provide.  Certain dogs make weekly visits to our Hospice House, while other breeds are available upon request to visit wherever you call home. All dogs are certified by Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Sounds of Comfort: Using Music to promote enjoyment, comfort, interaction and expression of feelings.

What sounds bring comfort, help you relax, or bring back memories?  We currently offer:

Recorded Music- Listen to music on cassettes, CD's or music videos brought out to your home. We will provide the portable stereo-player. Many types of music are available.

Live Music/Performance- Listen to a volunteer singing, playing piano, keyboard, or other instruments. We also offer a bell choir that plays hymns and does sing-a-longs.

Keyboard and Rhythm Instruments for Making Music- Volunteers assist patient and/or family in participating in making music on instruments brought to them or on instruments already in the home.

Massage Therapy/Skilled Application of Lotion: Manipulation of soft tissue and acupressure to increase comfort and relaxation within disease limits.

Massage Therapy- Ahhhh...just like a day at the spa, we currently offer massage therapy appointments once a month at our Hospice House for patients and family members. Home visits are also available on a limited basis. 

Massage Therapy- Provided by massage therapists. Patient permission required.

Skilled Application of Lotion- Trained volunteer applies lotion to a patient's hands for relaxation and comforting touch.

Remembrance/Life Review: Helping a patient or family member capture their most significant moments in a unique and individual way for personal growth or as a legacy for their family.

A Trained volunteer is provided to assist with the following projects:

Journaling- The art of capturing special memories in writing on paper. Each journal is personalized for that individual's unique experience.

Scrap booking- The art of capturing photos and mementos to tell a story of a person's special moments. This can include captions or written stories. Each person is provided with a starter kit.

Video taping- The art of capturing on camera anything the person wishes to preserve. It can be a walking tour of a person's home and grounds with narration of special memories, a tape of a family get-together, special messages, or anything you can imagine. Hospice can provide a video camera if you do not own one.

Audio taping- The special voice of someone you love sharing their favorite stories and thoughts on life can be a wonderful keepsake. Hospice volunteers will provide support and assistance through this process with suggestions or simply being there to turn the tape on and off.

Memory Box- Collect and archive special treasures for remembrance and safekeeping.

Family Tree- Record your family's ancestry, with or without pictures.  A variety of family tree forms are available.

Bestsellers: Hospice offers many books, including best sellers, to be borrowed by those who enjoy a nice read.  Books on tape are also available.