Handcast

Purpose and goals:

To provide a meaningful, comforting art-therapy experience in hospice or end-of-life care by creating a plaster hand-cast of the patient’s hand (and optionally the loved one’s hand). This physical form becomes a tactile, lasting legacy piece—a symbol of presence, connection, and identity. The process supports emotional processing, relational continuity, and offers a way for patients and families to create something tangible that remains after death.

  • Facilitate emotional connection and legacy building by preserving the unique touch of the patient’s hand.

  • Offer comfort and meaning for patient and family members through a shared creative experience

  • Support nonverbal expression of love, presence, and memory when words may feel insufficient.

  • Provide a tangible artifact that helps maintain bonds and supports grief and continuing connection after loss.

  • Create a mindful, gentle session that invites presence, reflection, and acknowledgment of the life lived and relationships held.

Theoretical Rationale:

Research from (Lowe & Pratt, 2016) describes how creating legacy objects can promote meaning, dignity, and relational comfort in hospice contexts. 10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001245.62

Legacy Handcasts:

  • Handcasts preserve connection and engages somatic memory and offers both patient and loved ones a physical imprint of connection.

  • For patients who may find verbal expression difficult (due to fatigue, dysphoria, or cognitive decline), creating a hand-cast externalizes presence and identity through form and texture.

Preparation:

At in-patient units, it is crucial to check with nursing staff and communicate with family before doing a handcast.

  • Nurses may want to pre-medicate patients to reduce possible agitation.

  • Staff may need to assist with adjusting the patient to position them for a successful cast.

  • There may be instances where it is inappropriate and a handprint or fingerprint can be done instead.

Communicate with family members about:

  • Duration, setup, and process

  • Have a plan for returning the handcast to the family. (In the event that the patient passes away and is no longer in the IPU, ensure there is contact information, HIPPA appropriate label, and store the casting for handoff through staff).

Materials:

Use Luna Beans hand-casting kit.

  • Measuring cup

  • Metal bowl

  • Scissors

  • Whisk/Spoon/Spatula

  • Protective disposable covering

  • Baby wipes

  • Optional: Calming music

Instructions:

Ensure all materials have been prepped, communication is set with staff and family, and the patient is well-positioned.

  1. Make the mold

  2. Prompt patient/family member to position their hands into the bucket.

Tips:

This can be a highly emotional process for everyone involved, including the facilitator. Facilitator may need to make response art and emotionally regulate with grounding exercises throughout.

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