Impact of Massage Therapy and Music Therapy on the Quality of Life of Hospice Patients

There is growing evidence that integrative therapies such as massage therapy and music
therapy can be effective therapeutic tools for relief of pain and non-pain symptoms in
hospice and palliative care patients. Massage and music therapies can provide comfort,
relaxation, and improve quality of life for patients. The investigator's primary aim is to
compare the effects of massage and music therapies on the quality of life of hospice
patients. The overall goal is to further improve pain, depression, anxiety, and poor
well-being or quality of life in hospice patients through the use of integrative therapies,
specifically massage and music therapies, as add-on to standard hospice clinical care.
Patients will be assigned to either the massage therapy or music therapy cohort.
Questionnaires will be utilized before and after each massage or music therapy intervention
to quantify symptom and quality of life levels.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patient is currently enrolled in Mayo Clinic Hospice

- Age 18 years or older

- ESAS-r scores of 5 or greater on pain, depression, anxiety, or best well-being
(clinical assessment by hospice nursing staff)

- Patient or caregiver must be able to participate in brief interviews and complete
questionnaires (verbally or physically)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients that would not be able to get a massage due to complexity of medical care
including complex wound and multiple drains