6 Body Sense
One-third of the US adult population are
considered caregivers—those who work on
average between 14 and 35 hours a week
caring for a loved one. Whether it's sitting
by someone's hospice bed, holding their
hand, and just being present for them; or the
seemingly more stressful tasks of taking your
loved one to their doctor appointments,
advocating for their health care, making
sure all the doctors on their case are talking
and know what the other is doing, and
ensuring all the right meds are being taken,
caregiving in any situation is exhausting.
Caregivers, however, often don't realize the stress
they are under until they've hit a wall. Many say
they simply don't have time to even stop and realize
it. Massage is one stress-relieving tool that you, or
the caregivers in your life, could look to for respite.
EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION
Caregivers are growing in numbers as aging baby
boomers settle into retirement and the golden years.
Their families, friends, and loved ones are often
called to assist in this part of the aging process.
In a caregiving role, the emotional component
alone is enough to exhaust anyone—what's harder
than living day to day with your heart wide open?
Think about it: What kind of emotional energy does
Massage and
the Caregiver
By Karrie Osborn
