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Enhancing Quality of Life for Those Less Active Due to Age or Illness.
Caring touch can have profound, positive effects on one’s mental and emotional state; this is especially true for those who are elderly or infirm. Massage provides physical and mental stimulation from an
"outside" person not involved in routine care. This can relieve boredom for the mentally alert and help disoriented reconnect with the present time and place.
As an individual relaxes, daily frustrations can seem less overwhelming. A person who feels better after a massage may be also more inclined to be physically active or to socialize with others.
Nurturing touch can calm the anxious or agitated person who feels frightened, depressed or out of control. The person feels less lonely, and is reassured that he or she is still important.
Three physical effects of therapeutic massage are well documented in scientific research: release of muscle tension, increased circulation, and initiation of the relaxation response. Each effect, though simple in itself, can result in multiple benefits for the elderly or ill.
Releasing muscle tension can:
- Improve balance coordination and mobility
- Result in more restful sleep
- Lessen the need for pain or sleeping medication
Increasing circulation can:
- Improve nutrition to tissue and remove waste products
- Reduce swelling caused by fluid retention
- Improve skin tone and relieve dryness and itching
- Help prevent pressure sores
- Speed healing from injuries and surgery
- Increase energy
Eliciting the relaxation response can:
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Ease and deepen breathing |
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Improve appetite and digestion |
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Help relieve constipation |
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Assist with any condition where stress may be a factor such as headache and asthma |
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Help one recognize and release tension on one’s own before it becomes a problem |
In addition, current research is showing that regular massage therapy can boost the immune system and positively influence the course of many minor diseases.
Massage therapy can be given in almost any setting including home, hospital or care facility. The person receiving the
massage can be in bed or seated upright in a chair or wheelchair, and may remain fully clothed.
A massage session can last from 10 to 30 minutes or longer depending on the person’s physical condition, mental and emotional state, and tolerance for touch. Sessions can vary considerably to meet individual needs and preferences, from a simple hand or foot massage to a complete body massage. Sometimes focused attention will yield the greatest benefit. This can be as simple as actively listening to a person and maintaining supportive physical contact such as gentle pressure to the hand or shoulder.
The frequency of sessions will be based on individual needs, availability of the massage therapist, and financial consideration. Sessions can range from twice a week to monthly. Physical benefits tend to increase with regular and frequent sessions.
There are some conditions for which massage should be avoided or at least carefully done. Examples of conditions requiring different degrees of caution are sever osteoporosis, arthritis in the inflamed stage, or
thrombophlebitis.
It is important that the massage therapist be updated before each massage session about changes in an individual’s physical condition and medications, as well as changes in the person’s mental or emotional state. In some cases, the massage therapist may want to consult with an individual’s physician or other health care team member before proceeding.
A qualified massage therapist can answer your questions about appropriateness and benefits of massage for anyone in your care. He or she will also be happy to explain his or her education, certification or licensing, and specialized background in working with the elderly or ill.
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