Services

Members and professionals of “L’Acero di Daphne” actively promote and organize events with the intent of teaching the culture of taking care of a sick person and not only of his or her disease. With the help of its professional team “L’Acero di Daphne” provides FREE services to the patient and to his or her family. The services are provided at the patient’s home or in other health structures, in accordance with the palliative care specialists of the Territorial Health Units. The team of professionals identifies the most appropriate interventions for the individual patient, and review, during regular meetings, the results obtained.

Medical Counseling for Palliative Care

A physician specialized in Palliative Care takes care of patients affected by severe and progressive diseases (that cannot be cured but that can always be cared for). He or she focuses on providing the patients with relief from symptoms, pain, and distress, to improve the patient’s and his family’s quality of life, protect their dignity. According to the World Health Organization, palliative care is an approach provided by a specialty-trained team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with a life-threatening illness. The team will help to guarantee the patient’s most elementary needs, wherever the patient may be, at home or in a health structure. Palliative Care neither hastens nor postpones death and intends to maintain the best possible quality of life until the end.

Counseling

Counseling is a brief and structured intervention, limited to 8-10 encounters, provided by an experienced specialist. It is offered as a help to a person who wants to activate his/her resources during a critical event. As a part of the team of Palliative Care, the Counselor can support the patient of his/her family, when they need to talk, to be listened to, to feel they are not alone.

Bereavement groups

During bereavement, there is need to elaborate emotions and feelings after the loss of a loved one. This program is offered to people who are grieving and want to express their pain and personal suffering. In addition, they may want to search within themselves for the resources needed to go through a painful time. The goal of the group is for individuals to share the words and the silences of the pain caused by grief as they receive support. The group is led by psychologists and educators who are experienced in group therapy.

For more information please write to info@lacerodidaphne.org or to giovanna.lonardi@gmail.com.

Physiotherapy

The physiotherapist provides targeted interventions for the musculoskeletal area, the neurological area (for the treatment of lesions of the peripheral or central nervous system), and for the visceral area (in the case of respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, or perineal dysfunctions). The interventions can include several different therapies, (manual, massotherapy, physical and occupational therapy, with the intent to identify and heal the needs of the person).

Music Therapy

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a certified professional. Individuals, groups, families or communities can participate, to improve their quality of life and their physical, social, communicative, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual condition. (World Federation of Music Therapy, 2011).

Within a helping relationship, music therapy uses music to face the needs and the objectives of a person. It creates connections with one’s memories and with emotions sometimes difficult to express in words. It can help to reduce distress, anxiety, and pain that often accompany a severe disease. It supports a person needing to take care of his/her identity. It is not necessary to be musicians or music experts to benefit from music therapy. Each person may explore, with the help of a music therapist, different techniques, to find the ones that better answer their needs. These techniques include the use of music to favor relaxation, musical improvising, and the creation of personal and original songs.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a way to help people coping with medical illness or loss, like the death of a loved one. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or control symptoms so a person can function better and increase his/her well-being. Each intervention is tailored to the needs of the person requiring it.

Psychological Support

This is a clinical intervention directed to the patient or a family member going through physical, emotional, or existential suffering. Each intervention will be tailored on the needs of the person requiring it.

Integral Yoga

This kind of Yoga is called integral because:

• It is integrated, connected to daily life, to breath, to presence, to the interaction with others
• It acts on the entirety of the human being, the harmonious equilibrium of body, mind, and emotional world
• It represents a “Path” by itself

Mindful Yoga

To become more mindful means to become more aware of your own body, your thoughts and your surroundings. When you can maintain a more mindful lifestyle, you will be able to discover things about yourself that you have never noticed before, while gaining a much greater understanding of your standing in life. Mindfulness poses a great challenge: “To live each moment of one’s life as important, as something that counts even in times of pain, sadness, desperation, or fear.” (Jon Kabat-Zinn). Each Yoga intervention will be evaluated according to the needs of the person and conducted by experienced personnel.

For more information please write to lisa.perlini@gmail.com.