Therapies

We offer Physiotherapy to babies, children and young people aged 0-25 (as appropriate). Our babies, children and young people may have a variety of symptoms as a result of their serious or terminal condition and often benefit from Physiotherapy programmes including manual handling reviews and chest clearance programmes.

Rainbows at Lark Rise, there are two registered Physiotherapists who work across seven days of the week alongside the multi-disciplinary team to support the development and delivery of individual care plans. Our Physiotherapy service can be provided as part of a short break at Rainbows, managing symptoms for end-of-life admissions or as an outpatient.

Families can access expert advice and support on Physiotherapy as part of the baby, child or young person’s on-going care – this could include positioning, equipment and treatment. We also ensure that all appropriate resources are available and we will liaise with other healthcare professionals involved in the care of the baby, child or young person.

Benefits of Physiotherapy in Palliative Care:

• • • Delivery of integrated care through joint working with a child’s lead physiotherapists and wider multi-disciplinary teams
    • Management of the symptoms of the varied conditions of children and young people:
      o Reduces breathing difficulties, for example shortness of breath
      o Alleviates discomfort from stiff joints, spasms and muscle pain
      o Helps prevent development of future problems
      o Helps restore or maintain physical movement and function
      o Aids pain control

The use of warm water has many benefits and is known to be very relaxing whilst helping to ease aching muscles and stiff joints. Pain can be reduced and where movement is limited by weakness, the water helps to support limbs, reducing the effort needed to move. The experience of being in water offers a sense of freedom and relaxation and often enables more movement than on land.

Our Hydrotherapy pool is carefully regulated and meets national guidelines for water quality and temperature.

Benefits of hydrotherapy

• Provides different experiences including sensory, relaxation and stimulation
• Develops play and communication
• Helps with symptom management

With a fully furnished Music Room, a State Registered Music Therapist and a Music Therapy Assistant, we are able to provide Music Therapy and music making to help our babies, children, young people and siblings to express their emotions and feelings in a therapeutic and supportive setting. Our Music Room is not only stocked with traditional instruments including drums, guitars and pianos, but it also includes technology to allow any child, whatever their ability, to make music using sensors and specialist detectors. Music can be a powerful tool in both physical and emotional expression and has a huge role within pain management, physiotherapy and respiratory programmes.

Our Music Therapist, is passionate about using music as a tactile medium where the vibroacoustic elements of the instruments can be used to stimulate, relax and engage babies, children and young people. Therapeutic breathwork is also part of many Music Therapy sessions to give a ‘voice’ to emotional expression and establish communication between child and therapist. Additionally, song-writing, playlist creating and music writing all form part of the specialist offer with our Music Therapist.

Alongside the therapist, a Music Therapist Assistant is available to offer universal music making opportunities for both individuals and groups, often working in collaboration with other specialisms such as our Play Team or the Spiritual Support Worker to provide holistic, multi-sensory sessions. This increases the opportunities for babies, children, young people and their families to access music making which improves well-being for all involved including the care staff who often love joining in!

Our Music Team facilitate sessions around the Hospice in the bedrooms, main lounges as well as in the amazing Music Room. They have even been known to take instruments into the pool for a fully interactive session! Sessions can also be brought to babies, children and young people at home for additional support in the community as part of the outreach service. Additionally, they regularly visit hospitals to bring the Rainbows experience to those babies, children and young people on the wards, who are known to our services.

Complementary therapies are offered (as appropriate) to babies, children and young people, both in the hospice and as part of Rainbows outreach services – including in the families’ own home, as well as during hospital stays. These therapies can help improve both physical and emotional health by alleviating symptoms such as pain, nausea, anxiety, depression and fatigue; relaxing the mind and body; relieving tension and stress and enhancing general wellbeing. We offer a range of complementary therapies including massage, reflexology, aromatherapy and Indian head massage.