Baby boomers the giant generation are turning 65+ at the rate of 10,000 per day. The growing senior population can provide a steady, specialized client base for massage therapists whether you are just beginning your career or if you are interested in learning a new specialty for your successful practice.
Gone are the days of “the elderly”; we can no longer use that term to apply to everyone older than 65. We now have seniors, elders, robust seniors and robust elders. The 65-plus age group has become an amalgam of personalities and activity levels that rival those of Generation X.
This has created a new clientele for therapists and caregivers alike; stronger, more active elders, as well as older elders. Massage Therapists interested in adding Geriatric Massage to their services must learn to accommodate clients who have undergone surgery, have accumulated a lifetime of injuries, can’t maneuver themselves onto a massage table and might be yearning for human touch.
Geriatric massage is not simply a lighter form of Swedish massage. It involves specialized strokes and techniques designed for aging skin and muscles. It is crucial for therapists interested in working with old clients to learn the basics of geriatric massage before practicing their craft with this diverse group of people.
As massage therapists, it is important not to lose sight of the power our hands can contribute to clients. When working with the older generation, this is all the more true.
In fact, this can be one of the greatest rewards of working with older clients: We can feed the souls of our elders who may be starved for caring, friendly touch. Touch helps humans organize information and understand the world around us, and it is essential to human happiness. Sometimes a reassuring touch is all one needs to feel better.
The specific characteristics that you should use when implementing Geriatric massage to your practice includes:
§ A thorough intake form. Be sure to inquire about physician care, medications and recent surgeries. Also be aware a physician’s approval is sometimes necessary.
§ Shorten your sessions. A geriatric massage session sometimes lasts no longer than 30 minutes, as a longer session may be too much for an elderly person.
§ Utilize special hands-on work. The massage techniques used for middle-aged clients often prove inappropriate for older adults.
§ For example no long stripping strokes should be used on old clients, as the skin thins with age.
§ Fluffing is the proper technique to use, so as to not tear or bruise the skin.
§ Always starting with the feet with all strokes moving upward toward the heart.
§ Do not use stretching techniques.
Massage therapy benefits seniors just as it does any massage client. Including improved blood and lymph circulation; faster healing; pain relief; restored range of motion and flexibility; reduced anxiety, tension and stress; relief from depression; and enhanced immune function.
Additionally, geriatric massage offers specific benefits including:
§ Boosts Memory – repetitive touch can help the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer’s retain some body memory, which in turn might trigger the recall of other memories
§ Soothing for Alzheimer’s patients – Alzheimer’s Association recommends using massage to sooth an Alzheimer’s patient who has become irritated and aggressive.
§ Physiological gains – a 2004 research found changes in blood pressure, heart rate, hemoglobin values and respiratory rate in patients as a result of being touched by a nurse.
§ Better sleep, relief from arthritis and chronic pain , increased recovery time from surgeries, better circulation, lower blood pressure and relief from some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Blog Post May 6