e3’s Aromatherapy Hospice Program for Celia’s House

By Caryn Gehlmann

Do you know of a care facility that could benefit from a customized Aromatherapy Hospice Program? Please share this important information with them. It’s our mission to bring Scents of Comfort to people when they need it the most.

Aromatherapy contributes to a calm, peaceful environment – reducing stress for patients, family, and caregivers in the hospice setting. It can also be used to help provide relief from physical and emotional symptoms such as nausea, pain, depression, and anxiety.

For over a decade, our staff of trained Clinical Aromatherapists and healthcare professionals has partnered with hospice organizations. In a hospice setting the primary goal of aromatherapy is to bring comfort to the patient and family members during this time of transition. Many hospices report remarkable improvements in the quality of life for patients, caregivers, and staff.

We’re working with Celia’s House to implement an aromatherapy program. In 2008, Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice wanted to help bring end-of-life comfort and peace to those unable to do so in their own homes. In 2018, they purchased and transformed an iconic old house into a 12-room model of true excellence in end-of-life care, serving the Southern Oregon region.

We recently spoke with Judy Hilyard, an honorary board member of Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and a bedside volunteer at Celia’s House. She shared why she decided to introduce an Aromatherapy Hospice Program to their care protocol.

“In 2007, I was a nurse at the hospital in Ashland when I met Caryn and we worked together to establish an aromatherapy program. My experience working in ICU and on the floor is that aromatherapy can help with nausea, anxiety, and pain. So I’m excited to utilize Caryn’s expertise to address these same issues in the hospice setting. She is an amazing person to work with — an excellent teacher, cheerleader, and problem-solver. I trust her implicitly.” 

In our research and experience working with hospice programs, we’ve identified the essential oils and blends hospice programs prefer to use to comfort patients, caregivers, and families. To learn more, visit our Hospice Aromatherapy page to see how we can help you customize a program to meet the needs of your facility.

I also want to share three spritzer recipes that are usually gentle enough to be used in a hospice setting. They just may become the beginning of your own Aromatherapy Hospice Program! Whether you use these in your home or in a facility, remember, it’s good to start slow and ensure that everyone enjoys a scent before introducing it into a space.

3 Hospice Aromatherapy Spritzers

Calming Spritzer

4 ounces of filtered (or distilled) water

10 drops Lavender (E. Europe)

15 drops Mandarin, Nova

5 drops Chamomile (Roman)

Alternative: e3 Peace Blend, Stress Relief, Solace, Transition Blend

Deodorizing Spritzer

4 ounces of filtered (or distilled) water

15 drops Bergamot

10 drops Orange, Sweet

5 drops Eucalyptus Radiata

Alternative: e3 Purify, Protection

Uplifting Spritzer

4 ounces of filtered (or distilled) water

15 drops Lemon

10 drops Bergamot

5 drops Spearmint

Alternative: e3 Pick Me Up, Revitalize, Mood Rescue

Mix all of the ingredients in a spritzer bottle. Shake well before each use. Use to mist the linens and bedding as desired. If you’d like to use it as a room mist, spray it as high up in the room as you can to allow the mist to fall through a greater volume of air space.

Please contact us if you would like assistance in selecting essential oils, developing policies and procedures, and training your staff on safe application methods. Our goal at essential 3 is to help you utilize aromatherapy as a safe, gentle, and effective way to bring comfort to your patients and their families.

Would you like to learn more about the science behind aromatherapy? Download our free guide, Listen to Your Nose: An Introduction to Aromatherapy.