"Giving Comfort with Care"

Bonnie Schreck, a longtime resident of Las Vegas, was known for her generosity to many local charities. Bonnie died on February 11, 1999 following an 18-month battle with cancer. She was 51.

In April 1999, the Bonnie Schreck Memorial Comfort Care Program was established with funds given in Bonnie's memory.

This program continues to be supported by the generous donations of others.

There are currently 7 therapies offered under this program. They have been implemented as part of Nathan Adelson Hospice's in-patient services, and will be added to our homecare services in the near future.

All of these programs are designed to boost the spirits of our patients as well as assist with pain and stress management. For more information, click on the therapy.


Pet Therapy

Fluffy, a 245lb English Mastiff visits one of our patients.

Pet Therapy provides the gentle visit from a loving pet to bring a sense of calm and comfort to our patients and their family members. Nathan Adelson Hospice has pet therapy visits nearly every day. All of these dog have taken and passed the Canine Good Citizen Test.

The Canine Good Citizen Test is a certification program that tests dogs in simulated everyday situations in a relaxed atmosphere.

The purpose of the Canine Good Citizen Test is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected member of the community because it is trained and conditioned to act mannerly in the home, in public places and in the presence of other dogs. The program embraces both pure-bred and mixed-breed dogs.

Please contact our organization if you have a dog that would make a good pet therapist.

Relaxation Therapy
Each inpatient unit facility at Nathan Adelson Hospice offers a music, video, and books on tape library. With a complete entertainment guide available, a patient can choose from the large selection to meet their preference.

Musicians also come to our in-patient units to play for our patients and their families. Music promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Music can be used in conjunction with medications to alleviate pain, elevate the patient's mood, counteract depression, induce sleep, decrease fear, help calm and lessen tension.

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the art and science of using pure essential oils from fragrant plants to help improve a person¹s health and well-being. Pure essential oils work in harmony with the body as support. For example, lavendars¹ effects are analgesic, sedative, antidepressant, decongestant, antiviral and antibacterial.

Essential oils and aromatic diffusers are used to make a difference in the quality of life for our patients. Aromatherapy is administered by trained staff and volunteers in order to help a patient sleep or to bring about memories or help with depression.

At Nathan Adelson Hospice, we use a variety of oils scientifically proven to bring about specific benefits for the patient physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Water Therapy
The gentle soothing sounds of water from tabletop waterfalls are available to each patient in order to aide in the comfort and serenity of our facility.

Upon request, a patient may have a tabletop waterfall placed in their room. These waterfalls can help a patient relax and sleep more soundly.

Reminiscence Therapy
Memories are the most important thing we can leave for future generations.

Nathan Adelson Hospice allows the patients to have the opportunity to share their memories, special messages, thoughts or feelings with and for those they love.

Upon a patient's request, these thoughts are written for their family, friends or for our website.

Specially trained social workers or volunteers meet with the patients to reminisce about their lives and share important messages to loved ones in the form of love letters. A memories journal specifically designed to share the patients¹ lifestory is also provided.

If a patient requests it, family members and friends can view the loved one's memories on our website.

Sometimes, hearing a loved ones voice or reading their words can mean a world of difference to those who are grieving.

Massage Therapy
Massage relieves stress, headaches, backaches, anxiety, fatigue and sleeplessness. Massage therapy is not only a relief to our physical body, or to injury and pain caused by accident or stress, it's also a balancing influence on our lives. Massage in not just for people who can't handle their pain or for people who feel the need to be pampered. Massage is in actuality therapeutic.

The Mayo Clinic lists the psychological benefits as: "Massage relieves stress and can improved your state of mind. Also, massage fulfills a universal human need for touch." Massage is not the only answer for an aching back, it can change our lives for the better.

At Nathan Adelson Hospice, massage therapy is used in order to bring stress relief, ease aches and pains and bring general comfort to the patient.

Are you an LMT who would like to become a hospice volunteer? We would love to have you a part of our team! Click here for our Volunteer page and more info.

Energy Work
Energy work is a type of alternative therapy using hands-on and energy-based techniques to balance and align the human energy field. Body, mind, emotion and spirit are touched through this therapeutic process. Examples of energy work include healing touch, reiki, and therapeutic touch.

Energy work functions from an energy perspective rather than a physical one. It allows the recipient to experience harmony and influences the whole person on all levels. Energy work is appropriate for everyone and can take place in any setting.

Hypnotherapy/ Guided Imagery
Hypnotherapy/ Guided Imagery is endorsed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization as a therapy that can be very beneficial to hospice patients.

Hypnotherapy/ Guided Imagery is a safe and effective tool that empowers a patient to take control of her/his response to the physical pain and the psychosocial/spiritual pain of a terminal illness.


These therapies allows the patient to relax and let the subconscious mind open in order to replace anxiety, stress or pain with peace and comfort.

During the hypnotherapy or guided imagery process the patient is completely awake, in control and aware of what is happening. The patient will remember everything that was said during the session and he/she will feel refreshed and relaxed when it's completed.


Please contact Laura Leigon, Complementary Therapy Coordinator at (702) 938-3961 or email her at lleigon@nah.org for more information about our complementary therapy programs.