Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1488451
36 m a s s a g e & b o d y wo r k j a n u a r y/ fe b r u a r y 2 0 2 3 experience fear, anxiety, and isolation because of their condition. They might understand more than they are capable of talking about. They might not understand your words, but they do understand touch that is offered in a caring way. They can understand caring intention. Touch is a way to communicate that is nonverbal, and that validates their very humanness." She says a slow pace and steady, consistent pressure of Comfort Touch makes it feel safe and predictable for the person. "This is so important for people who are experiencing the loss of control of their ability to think and communicate clearly." The positive power of touch can release endorphins, encourage deeper breaths, and restore an overall feeling of well-being. Residents in memory-care facilities are often touch-deprived, Castiglione says, which can cause them to be further out of touch with reality. They receive touch when they are bathed, dressed, fed, or given medications, but that's not enough. "A loving touch with the sole intention of bringing calmness or joy to a client with dementia will enable them to thrive and can make all the difference in their world. Their daily caregivers may even experience far less agitation in their client as they assist them with activities of daily living." Meet Eye to Eye It's a good idea to seat yourself at the client's level, rather than towering over them when you first make physical contact, experts advise. Similarly, it's wise to approach clients from an angle where you are clearly seen by them, before you reach them. "Approaching from behind or touching their back or shoulders if they can't see you is often startling for them, which can cause them to withdraw completely or express agitation physically by swatting their hands to keep you away," Castiglione says. "Speaking gently, clearly, with a smile, and looking straight into their eyes is generally a more calming approach and will likely yield a more relaxed and productive visit." Being the Eyes and Ears for Your Clients The community of health- care workers who staff nursing homes, dementia centers, and assisted living facilities are allies in the difficult journey that is caregiving. But this community has changed significantly over the past decade and especially since early 2020, when it lost nearly 13 percent of its workforce since the onset of COVID-19. More than 95 percent of the nation's nursing home and assisted living facilities across the US today are dealing with staff shortages; nearly one- third of those are dealing with significant staffing challenges. 3 That means each of these direct-care professionals now has less time than ever to interact with their elderly residents. As the ratio of caregiver to resident/patient becomes more skewed, basic caregiving and medication dispersal become the most these staff members can attend to in a day. Dawn Castiglione, owner of Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute, says with health-care workers exiting the field of elder care in droves and remaining staff being stretched thin with the number of residents in their care, "It becomes increasingly urgent for massage therapists working with seniors to become truly invested in every aspect of their clients' well-being." While MTs can't diagnose or prescribe, Castiglione says MTs are in a unique position to recognize the subtlety of changes in senior clients that can be, and often are, of severe consequence. "Even small changes in our clients' behavior can signify an emotional shift or a decline in physical health taking place within them." She says it's more important than ever for massage therapists to remain diligent in their documentation notes. "Having record of these occurrences enables the therapist to then make informed decisions about whether changes in their client need to be reported to the client's health-care team of nurses, doctors, caregivers, or family members." When the manual therapist serves as a "partner" in a client's overall state of health, Castiglione says they become part of the "care team" that has an investment in their client's overall well-being. And that partnership remains, whether your elderly client is frail and bedridden or active and in good health.