There is perhaps nothing harder on Earth, than to lose a loved one, whether it’s quick and sudden or a prolonged illness – be it a favorite grandparent or someone still in the prime of their life.

Death is inevitable, but how you choose to die, if given a choice, departing with dignity and grace, surrounded by loved ones or even a comforting face, can make a world of difference, according to area health professionals.

No matter what your beliefs on the afterlife, no doubt, grief can be difficult to navigate for family members and friends – often adrift amid the profound sense of sadness, numbness, anger and guilt, that can accompany the loss.

Although everyone grieves in their own way and at their own pace – without help, unresolved feelings, even lying dormant, could cause further trauma – if not channeled or handled in the best possible manner.

Unresolved grief can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and even physical illness. That’s why ongoing support and counseling are vital – not just for healing, but for overall well-being, health professionals said.

Thankfully, the newly rebranded, Holistic Hearts Foundation, in partnership with Peaceful Hearts Hospice, is one metro-area nonprofit that can make the transition easier for the patient, as well as their family members and friends.

In addition to the more traditional bedside and bereavement care, Holistic Hearts also delves into music, art and aromatherapies to guided meditation, massage, acupuncture and beyond, proven to provide comfort and pain relief – while helping to reduce the anxiety associated with leaving the life you once lived, the people you loved, behind.

“Peaceful Hearts Hospice provides hospice care; we enhance their care by providing complementary holistic services,” said Sherry Kolli, a foundation board member.

“While the hospice focuses on quality of life, by providing Holistic Heart services, the plan of care for patients are individualized and patients have more options available to them to manage symptoms,” she said.

In order to better serve more people, the foundation recently decided to broaden its focus.

“The new name, Holistic Hearts Foundation, reflects a deeper commitment to whole-person care, addressing not just physical needs, but emotional, mental, and spiritual needs, as well. Holistic Hearts represents compassion, community, and the integration of holistic practices into end-of-life care, to nurture comfort and connection,” she explained.

Established in 2022, the foundation’s mission is to honor each person as a whole – body, mind, and spirit – by providing care that respects their dignity, values, and individuality. But end-of-life care is more than managing symptoms.

“It’s about honoring life, even in its final chapter. By offering holistic services, we help patients and families process emotions, express themselves, and feel calmer and more supported,” according to Kolli, a registered nurse and healing touch practitioner, who is also co-founder of Peaceful Hearts Hospice.

“Even when finding a cure is not possible, there are still meaningful ways to bring comfort, connection, and healing. We want every person to feel supported, cared for, and treated with dignity at end-of-life,” she said.

The rebranding was initiated to better align with the foundation’s evolving mission and its partnership with not only Peaceful Hearts Hospice, but the entire Omaha community.

“As we grow, we hope to be able to offer these holistic-care services in partnership with other businesses as well. We’re working to expand our reach as resources allow,” she said.

Among their more recent endeavors, the launch of Holistic Hearts Spa at Ovation Heartwood Preserve, which offers independent, assisted living, and memory care for seniors, with the wellness services open to all residents and members of the community.

The innovative spa will offer a range of holistic therapies, including massage therapy, energy healing, sound therapy, hydrotherapy, and more – each designed to promote relaxation, balance, and emotional well-being.

The effort reflects the foundation’s commitment to making integrative care accessible to all, supporting the whole person and creating moments of tranquility and healing at every stage of life, she said.

Since its inception, the foundation has provided holistic care to more than 1,000 individuals in the metro and surrounding communities, its primary service area, and more if you count the groups, such as music therapy.

But their approach – which treats the whole person, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, as well as offering grief support and caregiver resources, each tailored to the individual’s needs and wishes – is not a novel concept.

“Holistic care has been influenced by ancient healing traditions from cultures such as traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and Indigenous practices, which center on creating balance and harmony between the body, mind, and spirit,” Kolli said.

However, the concept has become more mainstream over the years.

“Across the Midwest, there’s been growing interest in integrative health, with more holistic clinics and community-based wellness programs opening. National surveys show nearly 37 percent of Americans now use complementary health approaches, and they’re becoming more widely accepted in healthcare and insurance coverage,” she said.

An ancient approach, now even backed by modern medicine.

“Studies show that therapies like music, massage, and acupuncture can reduce pain, anxiety, and fatigue in hospice patients. Holistic care improves quality of life and supports emotional and spiritual well-being,” Kolli added.

While they draw inspiration from national best practices in hospice and palliative care, the foundation is uniquely rooted in community needs.

“Our integrative model combines clinical hospice care with holistic therapies, community outreach, and emotional support. By caring for the whole person and supporting families along the way, it provides a unique approach in the Omaha area.”

The foundation itself is governed by a dedicated board of directors, which provides oversight and strategic guidance.

“The team includes staff, volunteers, and community advisors who help shape and deliver our programs. We operate with a small but passionate team, including myself, licensed massage therapists, holistic practitioners, and music therapists,” Kolli said.

Yet, even they recognize the need to take care of themselves, as they best care for others.

“Creating a culture of openness and support helps our team process the experiences that come with this work and continue caring for our patients with heart. We also hold quarterly employee appreciation days where our staff can experience different holistic self-care practices,” she said.

As a nonprofit, they are funded through a combination of private donations, grants, community partnerships, and fundraising events.

“Our goal is to keep services accessible regardless of a patient’s financial situation. Holistic services are not covered under hospice benefits, which is why our foundation exists,” she said.

Among their most requested services – provided primarily wherever patients are receiving hospice care – are massage therapy, music therapy, healing touch and Emotion Code and Body Code.

But all of their services are designed to help with pain, anxiety and restlessness.

“Holistic modalities such as music therapy, massage therapy, and healing touch help decrease pain and anxiety and increase socialization and communication. Emotion Code and Body Code can help with comfort and anxiety, as well as addressing past traumas and fears. Our services can help improve a person’s quality of life, including our veterans,” she said.

One only needs bear witness, to understand the impact their services have had on their patients, as well as the staff.

“We regularly receive heartfelt testimonials from families and volunteers. Their stories speak to the power of holistic care, bringing comfort, healing, and even joy during difficult times,” she said.

Among them, a patient who had experienced early, onset dementia and was non-verbal.

“Our patient and her husband loved music, and her husband made it a point to attend our patient’s music therapy sessions. During the session, they would sing and laugh, and our patient was able to speak some sentences to her husband. After the session ended, the patient was able to continue speaking for about 15 minutes, and then she returned to being non-verbal. For her husband, this time meant so much to him and was priceless. The patient’s brother would also attend some sessions so he could interact with his sister.”

Yet another…

“One gentleman went on our service when he was 101. He was experiencing horrible knee pain, and treatments he had previously tried did not help. (Cortisone shots for one). Our massage therapist began seeing him weekly, and after the visits, he was pain-free for a couple of days. Seeing the pain relief and improved quality of life he was experiencing, we increased to two massage therapy visits a week and added craniosacral therapy and ReTensioning to his sessions. These sessions helped decrease his pain significantly and drastically improved his quality of life,” she said.

And ultimately, there is the mystery surrounding the moment of death.

“Many families share stories of loved ones seeing familiar faces, feeling a peaceful presence, or experiencing a sense of calm. These moments are deeply personal and often bring comfort and reassurance,” she said.

“One of our patients could only speak in a whisper, she was so weak. The moment she passed away, her husband said she sat up, looked up at the ceiling, raised her hand, and said in a very strong voice, ‘Father, I see!’ She then fell back onto the bed, and she was gone.”

Which ties into a final note…

"Peaceful Hearts Hospice offers bereavement support with no time limits. Medicare states bereavement services must be offered for at least 13 months after death, but we offer it forever," Kolli said.

But in the meantime…

“We hope to expand our reach and our services and build a stronger network of support that nurtures holistic health and well-being, ensuring everyone in our community feels valued and cared for … mind, body and soul,” she said.

To learn more, please visit: https://holisticheartsfoundation.org/