Complementary therapy groups to help the long-term sick in Nairn
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A new integrated service has been launched to develop tai chi and health and wellbeing groups in the Nairn area.
Spearheaded by Nairn Healthcare Group, together with Highland Hospice Complementary Therapy Service, it will begin this month on Monday afternoons at Nairn Town and County Hospital.
The tai chi and health and wellbeing groups will be offered on a drop-in basis and made available to anyone affected by a life-limiting or long-term health condition – including families and carers.
They aim to support the changing patterns of chronic and life-shortening illnesses and Susan Fraser, a complementary therapist, was inspired by a podcast which spoke about how holistic care helps empower patients and families to manage living with illness.
She said: “It changes a patient’s perspective so they do not feel they have moved into care designed for those who are dying.
“Tai chi is a low-impact, slow-moving exercise which can be easily adapted to anyone, and those who have attended our sessions within the Highland Hospice Netley Day Therapy Centre feel that they have improved movement, balance, better management of breathlessness and improved sleep pattern.
“Our health and wellbeing programme, which is complementary therapy and mindfulness based, is designed to help manage living with illness; including topics such as fatigue, sleep, anxiety, nutrition, pain and medication.”
Vivienne Brown, whose husband David attended the Netley Day Therapy Centre in Inverness before he passed away in April, said: “Both David and I got so much from our tai chi classes and massage sessions and I just felt it was such a shame there was nothing like this on offer in Nairn.
“I spoke to both Susan and my GP to ask whether there might be a chance of hosting these in Nairn.
“Sadly David never got to see this happen, but I am delighted that local individuals and those close to them will be able to access this in the future.”
To register interest in attending either group contact Diane Grant by sending an email to: clinsec@highlandhospice.org.uk or by calling 01463 227919.
