Integrative Medicine
Our integrative medicine program coordinates complementary therapies into our care plan for patients and families. With a focus on what is most important to you and the therapies that may be most helpful, our integrative medicine team works with your care team to support you with practices such as massage, music and art therapy, and animal-assisted therapy with our TeamBCN dog, Rosemary (as available).
The goal of integrative medicine is to optimize your well-being physically, mentally or emotionally. Achieve the relief of tension through massage, family bonding through music therapy, or a smile from the gentle love from our therapy dogs… along side our traditional medical practices to manage your symptoms and aid your comfort.
Animal-Assisted, Art, Music and Other Therapies to be Offered in New Program.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animals have been used in therapeutic settings since the early 1800’s, when Florence Nightingale observed that her patients experienced reduced levels of stress and anxiety in the companionship of small animals. Bluegrass Integrative Medicine’s animal-assisted therapy program uses the natural bond between humans and animals to provide comfort to patients. Interactions with our therapy animals can provide pleasure to patients, families and caregivers; however, there is evidence to suggest there are many additional benefits, including:.
Art Therapy
Artist Georgia O’Keefe asserted, “I found that I could say things with color and shape that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” Bluegrass Integrative Medicine’s art therapy program utilizes a person’s creativity and art-making to improve physical and emotional health. Unlike an art lesson which might have a goal of creating “good art,” the program offers participants an opportunity to engage with art materials to express thoughts, emotions and experiences. Research suggests that engaging in art therapy with a trained art therapist may have benefits which include:
Massage Therapy
Michaelangelo stated, “To touch is to give life”. The origins of Massage Therapy can be traced back to Ancient China and Egypt, whose ancient cultures believed in its medical benefits. Bluegrass Integrative Medicine’s animal-assisted therapy program uses the natural bond between humans and animals to provide comfort to patients in our hospice care centers and with nursing home partners. Research suggests that massage therapy may have benefits which include:
Music Therapy
The use of music in a therapeutic manner has been recognized throughout history and found its footing as a profession in the United States in the 1940s. Bluegrass Integrative Medicine’s music therapy program uses music within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of our patients. Unlike a traditional music lesson which might have a goal of mastering a particular instrument, the program offers participants an opportunity to engage with music regardless of musical ability. Research suggests that engaging in music therapy with a credentialed music therapist may have benefits which include:
Opportunities to Support these Programs
Donate. Community support for Bluegrass Integrative Medicine is vital to the program’s success. This important care is not typically covered by insurance. We never turn a patient in need away for the inability to pay, so your gifts are crucial.
Volunteer. There are many different opportunities for volunteers with Bluegrass Integrative Medicine. Each volunteer works with our Community Engagement Coordinator to determine the activities that are most appropriate depending on personal interests and the needs of the program.
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