Massage & Bodywork

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2015

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INTERGENERATIONAL Awareness We live in a culture that does not place particular value on the senior citizens among us. Though I see much evidence of changes for the better, I've also seen how this attitude has contributed to one of the biggest ills of aging—that of isolation and loneliness. As a child, I was fascinated by my grandmothers; so as a massage therapist, it was natural for me to look to my elderly clients with the same curiosity and interest in the richness of their life stories. Sometimes I feel those stories in the tissues of the body I touch. Sometimes I see the stories in the expressions I see on their faces, or the old photographs framed on their walls and resting on bedside tables. And often I have the joyous privilege of listening to their stories in their own words. I espouse a client-centered massage, so when I am with my elderly clients, I am always open to hearing whatever they wish to say. I have heard stories of hard lives working on the farm; of piloting airplanes during World War II (including a veteran of the Women Airforce Service Pilots); of achievements in science and art; and of travel adventures around the world. I have been humbled by their courage, strength, humor, and self-reliance MASSAGE FOR THE ELDERLY F r e e S O A P n o t e s w i t h M a s s a g e B o o k f o r A B M P m e m b e r s : a b m p . u s / M a s s a g e b o o k 65 as they adapt to the challenges of aging. Most of all, I have listened to stories of family—the joys, sorrows, and rewards of life celebrating the intergenerational power of love. Comfort, NOT CURE As massage therapists, we all want our clients to feel better. We want to fix what ails them. We are often creative problem solvers working to achieve positive outcomes, improve functionality in the body, and diminish pain. Working with the elderly is humbling. There is no cure for old age, and in truth, there is no cure for most of the chronic conditions that ail people as they get older. Arthritis, cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory conditions are common conditions of the elderly. It is impossible to know everything about the pathologies our senior clients live with. But there are common factors, involving loss of function— both physical and mental—and the increased experience of chronic pain. So what does help, if we can't provide a cure? When people are in pain, or experiencing the loss of a familiar function, caring touch can help assure them they are still valuable human beings worthy of care and attention. Massage for the elderly has value for the comfort it affords the person, and it can alleviate the secondary pain caused by fear, stress, and worry. It is not a substitute for medical care, but it is a valuable complementary medicine, helping promote a sense of well-being, comfort, and connection. TOUCHING Memories When I touch an older person, I am not just touching an "old person," I am touching their lifetime memories. I have heard more than a few massage therapists wonder: "How do you massage an older person? They don't have enough muscle that it makes any difference." Ah, but the muscles are only one system of the ever-changing human body. The therapeutic value of touch is not only about manipulating muscles; it is about calming and sedating the nervous system. It is about giving the person something to feel good about. Human skin is replete with myriad touch receptors for sensing pain, pressure, temperature, and vibration. The complex combinations of these sensations create perceptions and memories. When we touch someone in a caring way, we are affecting their nervous system, either reminding them of remembered pleasures of touch, or giving them new sensations—and therefore lasting memories—of comfort, safety, and well-being. Lessons IN WORKING WITH THE ELDERLY Working with seniors has been a big part of my 30-year professional career as a massage therapist. It has also been a big part of my personal life, as I honor the elders in my life. Sometimes massage therapists tell me they're afraid of working with senior When people are in pain, or experiencing the loss of a familiar function, caring touch can help assure them that they are still valuable human beings worthy of care and attention.

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