How Geriatric Massage Can Comfort Seniors

The Gift of Personal Touch

Because some older adults may be widowed, socially isolated or dealing with restrictive health issues, they may miss out on regular human touch, such as a warm hug, rocking a grandchild to sleep, or walking hand in hand with a loved one.

Geriatric massage, however, offers a way for these seniors to experience human touch. A specialized type of massage therapy, geriatric massage is tailored for elders to improve specific health conditions that are caused by aging, such as stiff muscles, limited mobility and chronic pain. For seniors, mature skin contains less moisture and is more susceptible to bruising and tearing with standard massage pressure. Geriatric massage instead uses soothing, gentle strokes and mild stretching, and sessions are usually shorter, lasting about 30 minutes.

Painful arthritis or spinal problems may also require special attention during massage treatments for older adults. Plus, elders typically bring a different set of emotional and communication needs to the massage table than their younger counterparts who are stressed and just want their muscle knots worked out.

"In our culture specifically, elderly people are not included in a lot of things," said Nicole Joy, a certified geriatric massage therapist at Think Whole Person Healthcare in Omaha, Neb. "The social aspect is one of the main benefits of geriatric massage, particularly for lonely, elderly people. Many times a day I hear from my older clients, 'Oh, I have not been touched in so long.' The loving touch that goes along with therapeutic touch is immensely powerful."

Joy points out that geriatric massage offers relief from physical distress while providing seniors with emotional comfort and social interaction. Massage techniques for elders can include traditional deep tissue massage, shiatsu and trigger point therapy, but with a light to medium touch compared to modalities used on individuals with more active muscle tissue. Gentle lymph massage and reflexology are also excellent for the aging body.

Professional geriatric massage therapists consider health contraindications that affect a senior's receptivity to massage and use special techniques suitable for each client. The therapists may need to adapt the massage table height for easy on-off access for elders, assist older clients with undressing and dressing, or adapt massage methods for those confined to a wheelchair or bed, or for those who are at the end of life.

"Older adults often face unsettling losses - the loss of independence, loved ones, mobility and/or memory," said Heather Lantry, Owner and General Manager of Right at Home North Shore/Chicago Metro. "Geriatric massage is a beneficial way for seniors to win back something good in their lives. Our senior care team completes a health history on each of our senior clients, and we develop a customized care plan to help each individual improve the quality of their daily life. A thorough geriatric massage therapist will do the same."

Benefits of Geriatric Massage

Lantry notes a number of ways geriatric massage improves seniors' overall health, including:

• Increased circulation
• Reduced pain; release of endorphins
• Improved muscle tone and strength
• Increased joint flexibility
• Lowered blood pressure
• Reduced swelling
• Supported immune system
• Decreased stress, fear and anxiety
• Deepened relaxation and breathing
• Strengthened sense of well-being
• Greater social interaction
• Improved sleep

Geriatric massage also helps stimulate lymphatic system functions that cleanse the body of toxins and help safeguard against disease. Joy includes stretching exercises to move restricted joints during massage sessions for her older clients and recommends they practice safe stretches at home. For seniors with cognitive decline from dementia and other diseases, Joy sees firsthand how massage treatments help these older adults reconnect with the world.

"I have a couple of Alzheimer's clients, and they are some of my most devoted clients," Joy explains. "One client gets his massages once every two weeks and always looks forward to it. And he's eager to get his wallet and give me a tip. His daughters tell me this is incredible because it's not easy for him to remember to do little things like that. Just the anticipation of the massages motivates him and makes him more energized. He engages."

Selecting a Geriatric Massage Therapist

A licensed massage therapist for more than 20 years, Joy completed additional courses to treat the elderly and earned a certification in geriatric massage. She advises seniors to find a professional clinician certified in geriatric massage and who is patient and compassionate. The ideal elder massage therapist is willing to build a trusting client-practitioner relationship that includes chatting with elders who are lonely and miss conversation, or who are challenged by their health conditions. During a massage session, some dementia clients may ask the same question or repeat the same story. A caring massage therapist will politely engage with elderly clients without judgment or a rush to end the conversation.

Right at Home partners with Age-u-cate® Training Institute to provide Compassionate Touch®, a non-pharmacological approach to connect with dementia clients using a combination of "skilled touch and specialized communication." About 30 Right at Home offices across the country currently offer Compassionate Touch training for caregivers.

A senior should consult with a physician to learn about massage that is appropriate for their own body, especially if the older adult is recovering from a heart or stroke incident. Health conditions that can preclude massage include:

• Blood clots (thrombosis)
• Vein inflammation (thrombophlebitis)
• Bruises, skin lesions or heightened skin sensitivity
• Severe swelling (edema)
• Inflammation
• Abdominal aneurysms

"I wholeheartedly believe in the benefits of massage therapy for geriatrics," Joy said. "I have seen so much positivity and happiness come from my older clients. They deserve human touch, and they deserve to relax - in fact, maybe more so than any age population. Seniors have lived the longest, and their bodies have endured the most. Many times during a massage my older clients will recall memories and start talking about the past or their children. There is often an emotional release during massages - little tears coming from their eyes. After a massage, my elder clients hug me saying, 'Thank you so much. You make me feel so much better. I look forward to this. This is the best thing in my life.'"