Massage Therapy for Palliative and End of Life Care: Skills for Comfort, Dignity, and Connection
This two-day advanced training course prepares Registered Massage Therapists to offer safe, compassionate, and clinically appropriate care to individuals at the end of life. Designed for those working in hospice, home care, or hospital environments, the course explores how massage therapy can support comfort, dignity, and connection during this critical stage.
Participants will learn how to adapt manual techniques for medically fragile individuals, accommodate positioning and mobility challenges, and approach each treatment with presence and sensitivity. The course addresses the philosophy of palliative care, shifting clinical goals, and how to navigate emotional, cultural, and spiritual aspects of dying with respect. Communication with patients, families, and care teams is a core focus, along with understanding the therapist’s role within interdisciplinary and home-based care settings.
Through case-based learning and hands-on practice, therapists will leave with greater confidence, emotional readiness, and practical tools to provide meaningful, affirming care—right through to the final days of life.
NHPC 10