Having regular massages can be an important part of healthy living. For young and old alike, a massage can bring better mental health, increased blood flow, a calmer state of mind, and even pain. As you care for your elderly loved one, you or their home care team might have done some minor massages such as rubbing sore hands or shoulders to bring relief from sore muscles and joints.
If you are contemplating having your aging loved one receive massage therapy, it might be time to set aside those massages from you and their home care team, and look into having a geriatric massage therapist step into the picture and onto your loved one’s health care team.
A geriatric massage therapist will take into consideration many factors to make sure your loved one receives a massage that provides relief based on her age, physical needs, and ability to receive a massage that is safe and beneficial.
Here are some of the things that the geriatric massage therapist will consider when planning massage sessions with your loved one.
Your loved one’s health
A geriatric massage therapist will want to know your loved one’s physical abilities and how active she is. You’ll want to share with him about any health conditions your loved one has such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart conditions. If your loved one has dementia, share that as well and your massage therapist will take that all into consideration.
Medications
A geriatric massage therapist will consider medications when determining which type of massage is best for your aging loved one.
Pain thresholds
Your loved one may feel pain more strongly than a younger person or might have tender areas on her body that can be easily triggered and flared up when pressure is placed upon them. Having this information will help the geriatric massage therapist know where and how much pressure to provide when doing a massage. This will help avoid discomfort and possible injury.
Temperature comfort
Elderly individuals often have a more difficult time regulating their temperature and can get cold or hot easily. Your massage therapist will have an extra blanket or cooling elements to make sure your loved one stays comfortable during her massage.
Skin sensitivity
Older individuals have thinner skin so too much pressure or rubbing can cause discomfort and even stretch or tear the skin, causing abrasions. A geriatric massage therapist will consider this as he performs the massage.
Duration
While some people love a massage that lasts for a full hour, that may be too much for your loved one. Your loved one may not be able to sit or lay in a position long enough or she just may find it’s too much time spent on the massage table or chair. Your massage therapist can offer shorter massages or massages that just target one area instead of the entire body.
If your loved one enjoys massages, it might be time to move up from the occasional shoulder rubs from their home care team into the regularly scheduled massages.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Severn MD please contact the caring staff at Vital Sign Home Care today. (410) 814-0258
A Trusted Skilled Medical and Non-Medical senior home care provider in Annapolis, Arnold, Severn, Guilford, Towson, Brooklandville, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Columbia MD, and surrounding areas.
Venus had a stroke in 2018, she had no movement on the right side of her body and was unable to speak. Venus has made great progress since then and shows up everyday doing her best. She takes pride in overcoming obstacles and never giving up, which has allowed her to obtain a level of success in healthcare.
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