I approached a local day hospice in my nearest town in the hope that they would be interested in allowing me to volunteer as an aromatherapist. I very promptly received a phone call from the nurse manager who was very keen to meet with me to discuss my suitability.

I had done my research and was aware that this Lincolnshire Hospice supported patients and their families in many ways, one way being a range of complementary therapies including aromatherapy massage. I met with the nurse manager who looked at my CV and interviewed me.

This day hospice in my town had a warm and welcoming team of staff who clearly offered the comfort that the day patients needed. Many patients attended not just for the camaraderie and contact with others who understood what they were facing, but also for the practical support, treatments, counselling and social activities on offer.

There was a dedicated treatment room where many practitioners worked offering at that time aromatherapy, reflexology, Indian head massage and reiki.

The nurse manager explained that no patient would receive aromatherapy without the approval of their consultant. A thorough assessment would be made by the nurse manager to ensure that there were no contra-indications to treatment and the patient would sign a consent form prior to treatment. Whilst discussing the gentle massage strokes I would be offering she explained that certain areas would need to be avoided (cancer sites, areas of skin cancer, areas receiving radiotherapy) and that some patients may have an initial fear of being touched. We discussed the essential oil blends I would be using (a 1% blend of a combination of the following) if appropriate to the patient:

• Frankincense: - may help with the fear of the unknown and emotional exhaustion; can slow down and deepen the breath producing a feeling of calm; can help with respiratory congestion.
• Neroli : – may help those suffering from shock or panic attacks; can have anti -depressant effects; can act as a natural tranquillizer; often described as being able to reach deep down into the soul.
• Rose Otto: - may have anti-depressant effects; sometimes described as being a tonic to the heart and refreshing to the soul; may soothe feelings such as anger, fear and anxiety; a harmonizing oil which can make sorrow easier.

Working in palliative care was a completely new experience for me but I had massaged relatives who were close to death and found it comforted them and seemed to enhance their emotional wellbeing. The involvement of the consultant and nurse manager was reassuring and helped to counteract any initial concerns I had. The nurse manager made it clear that I needed to prepare myself for the death of patients and to remember that a patient may deteriorate after treatment but that it was important that I didn’t feel it was necessarily to do with my intervention. She said I needed to ensure that I didn’t have unrealistic expectations of my treatment and to be aware that there may be days when a patient just can’t face the treatment and not to take it personally.

I was very honest with myself before approaching the hospice in the first place and was sure that I would be able to cope with this type of role.

By far the most important part of my role as a volunteer aromatherapist was building trust. It was important to sit and chat with the day patients while they had refreshments both before and after the treatments. I attended a morning or afternoon each week and was informed by the nurse manager who was suitable for treatment depending on their physical needs and mood on that day. I saw mostly women (just one man) although the men were happy to experience a hand massage in the lounge. The sessions were short, on average 15/20 minutes in duration. The shoulders, face and scalp, arms and lower legs were the areas most requested by those patients who did see me. Sometimes patients didn’t have the energy to undress or make their way to the aromatherapy room so I would offer hand and foot massages in the lounge instead.

The patients unanimously liked the smell of the blends – I was very careful not to assume that they would, as I was aware of the sensitivity of chemotherapy patients to smell. Occasionally they requested carrier oil only. Generally, patients described symptoms of fatigue, nausea and pain.

The feedback I had was that the massage promoted a sense of calmness and comfort. They felt a release of tension when the massage started. They said it was so nice to have positive touch rather than a medical procedure of poking and prodding. They also felt it was comforting to have their body touched as their body image had been compromised due to the condition and the consequent treatment. One patient said it was empowering to have choices again (rather than the treatment being directed by someone else, e.g. consultant). Most of the patients wanted to chat during the session but one or two did try to find a stillness in their minds. On a couple of occasions when we went back down to the communal lounge, after the treatment, patients fell asleep in the chair.

I would say by far the most important part of my role was developing relationships with patients so that they felt comfortable, safe and knew that they could trust me. I spent a few minutes in the car before entering the hospice grounding myself (with the help of Neroli) so that I had positive energy that I could transfer to the day patients. I also had to protect myself for those days when a candle was lit for someone who had died. This was not easy and took some adjusting to. On these days it was important to help the other patients deal with their sorrow and their own fears by simply listening, allowing for quiet reflection, or offering some kind of reassurance through the use of two very powerful tools – the essential oils and the power of touch.

Diane is now employed by the Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust.

On 26th March 2018 at the Heung Yee Kuk Building, Shatin, Hong Kong, IFA members came together for a historic event which set a new Guinness World Record. They did this by giving 30-minute hand massages simultaneously to 297 elderly people, beating the previous world record of 250. The 297 participants were recruited locally from hospices and care homes. To make this happen the IFA funded the materials and expenses of the event in excess of £5,000 and provided the volunteer therapists. This landmark in the IFA’s history is an amazing honour for not only the IFA but our professional members who took part. It was also a wonderful illustration of our members doing what they do best - helping, healing and supporting their local community and promoting aromatherapy in the best possible way. An incredible accomplishment and memorable day.

The Minatoku Daiba Koureisya Service Centre in Tokyo is an elderly people’s home to currently 35 residents. In September 2018 the IFA organised for a team of volunteers to visit the care home and integrate Aromacare. Fragrance inhalers were made and given to each resident and periodic hand massages provided. The IFA sponsored its volunteer therapists travel and equipment to provide massage treatments to the residents. This charity project spanned over six months. During this time the volunteers also taught the residents family members simple techniques to use with their loved ones and how to create artefacts using scents to communicate caring and understanding. The IFA provided essential oils, carrier oils and towels. The IFA donated £1,218.00 of its funds to the project.

The Po Leung Kuk is a well-known and historic charity in Hong Kong established in 1880. Over the past century and in line with economic development, the range of services the charity provides and regions the charity serve has expanded to accommodate the welfare of more people. With the rapid aging of our population, the demand for services for the elderly have been increasing, with families struggling to get the care they so desperately need. Since the 1980’s the charity has been focusing on the development of care services and quality of life for the elderly. Its mission is to ‘serve our elderly with care, concern and counsel’.  At the IFA’s Hong Kong Preventative Healthcare conference in March 2018 the IFA donated 2000.00 HKD (£1,831.50) to help to improve services by integrating the IFA’s Aromacare Carer course into a wider range of these elderly care programmes. Focusing on those with dementia and chronic pain issues, the monies donated will directly inform and educate staff training and development for a multi-discipline approach to care, in furtherance of our own charitable objectives as well as supporting communities in Hong Kong - a country who has embraced the IFA’s ethos since the 1990’s with its first IFA training school.

The Sompo Care Lavire is a carer home in Kanagawa, Japan that wanted to introduce complementary therapies and aromatherapy into their programme of care. In September 2018 the IFA organised for a team of volunteers to visit the care home and integrate Aromacare. The IFA sponsored its volunteer therapists travel and equipment to provide massage treatments to the residents. This charity project spanned over six months. During this time the volunteers also taught the residents family members simple techniques to use with their loved ones and how to create artefacts using scents to communicate caring and understanding. The IFA provided essential oils, carrier oils, massage beds, diffusers, towels, cushions and herbs to create a herb garden for the residents to enjoy. The IFA donated £2,154.00 of its funds to the project.