Effective hospice care is dependent upon a caregiver who is able to withstand the physical and emotional ardors of the experience. Direct support for the family caretaker is as needed and valuable as the direct care hospice agencies provide to patients. Massage was found to be successful in addressing many of the stresses of primary caregivers. Nearly all of those who participated in an outreach project that used massage as a respite intervention reported reduced physical and emotional stress, physical pain, and fewer sleep difficulties.
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