Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/727614
8 Body Sense The population of US citizens over age 65 is projected to increase from 14.5 percent in 2014 to 21.7 percent by 2040, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging. www.aoa.acl.gov/Aging_ Statistics/index.aspx feelings of sadness and depression are naturally reduced as well. Massage also works directly with the nervous system in many ways, bringing a greater sense of peace and ease. And simply being in the company of someone who wants to offer loving touch adds icing to the cake. HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT PRACTITIONER? While in some care facilities there is no specific training required to offer geriatric massage aside from being a licensed massage therapist, it is best to ask the practitioner if they have been specifically trained in working with the elderly. There are varying levels of care needed within this population. For some residents, they might be able to receive a table massage in their room, and there would be no additional training necessary for the practitioner. But, with more fragile conditions and older, inactive residents, more careful touch needs to be applied and creative positioning utilized (e.g., offering massage while the client is in a wheelchair or even a hospital bed). It's important to find a practitioner who meets your loved one's individual needs. There are many trainings available, including Comfort Touch (www.comforttouch.com) and Daybreak Geriatric Massage Institute (www.daybreak-massage.com). The most valuable way to know if you have found the right practitioner is how receptive your loved one is to them. If the massage feels good, and your loved one enjoys the company, you've hit the mark. ARE THERE RISKS? According to Sharon Puszko, owner of Daybreak Geriatric Massage Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a 37-year veteran to the massage and wellness field, "There are very few true contraindications to senior massage. In actuality, it is more a smatter of appropriate touch. Massage does not always have to be therapeutic; it can also simply be tender, loving care." Because massage can be applied in so many different ways, at different depths and paces, as well as to only specific parts of the body, adapting to the individual makes massage safe in most cases. Typically, sessions are short, approximately 20–30 minutes, to avoid overstimulating the individual's nervous system. Deep work is rarely applied unless the individual is robust and somewhat fit. As with any massage session, every client is different. Seniors need extra care, especially given that many suffer from multiple conditions and take various medications to manage those conditions. Therefore, the practitioner must be informed of all medications, sensitivities, and cautions before engaging in a massage session with this client. In a best-case scenario, the practitioner will speak directly to the individual's health-care provider to ensure all contraindications are ruled out or managed appropriately.