The Benefits of Massage Therapy in Seniors with Dementia

1. The Benefits of Massage Therapy in Seniors with Dementia

2. Senior citizens who suffer from dementia are in a perpetual state of confusion, discomfort and misunderstanding. Most family members and caregivers focus on the medical aspects of patient care and healing, but non-medical care procedures can be just as effective at soothing and relaxing patients who are experiencing dementia-related issues.

3. Massage therapy is a form of non-medical care that has proven particularly effective in many cases, especially for patients with advanced forms of dementia. Massage and bodywork can help doctors and caregivers connect to patients on a more intimate level, and can remove some of the communication difficulty and distrust from the relationship. A skilled practitioner can help a dementia patient engage with the world around them in a non-threatening, low stress manner, and can aid in assuaging the loneliness that comes as a result of living apart from family and friends.

4. There are many different types of massage, and compassionate therapists are excellent at tailoring their bodywork to the needs of the client. For instance, if a patient becomes agitated or confused after being touched, the therapist can simply sit in the room and practice breathing exercises and gentle, encouraging speech. Not all patients enjoy being interacted with in the same way. Some enjoy more traditional forms of massage meant to limber and loosen muscles that are tensed in the same position for several hours at a time. Dementia patients are frequently inactive, and massage can be an effective means of exercising sedentary muscles and joints.

5. Massage practitioners are also highly trained in the art of patient interaction. This is soothing and helpful when both the therapist and patient are fully mentally functioning adults, but it can be life-changing when the patient has dementia. Seeing a friendly face, particularly a face that is new and different from those of nurses and doctors, can be a very welcome sight for a dementia patient. There is no pressure on the part of the patient to remember anything or express themselves, and although they may be in a medical facility the practitioner does not have to do anything unpleasant like administer a shot or begin an unpleasant treatment. Interaction with an untrained stranger can be frightening for a senior with dementia, but this fear is greatly diminished and reversed when the stranger is practiced in the art of client comfort.

6. Responsible massage therapy for seniors with dementia can have a litany of benefits -- improved social awareness, muscle and mind relaxation, mental stimulation and increased low-stress intimacy. The physical, mental and emotional benefits of massage therapy reveal themselves step by step during the process, especially with a talented practitioner. Dementia need not be an isolating disease -- in fact, some patients may achieve an even greater harmony of mind and body than they had before their diagnoses.

7. Description: Our mission at Home Care Assistance of Colorado Springs is to change the way the world ages. We provide older adults that reside in Colorado Springs and El Paso County with quality care that enables them to live happier, healthier lives at home. We invite you to call us today to speak with a professional care manager at (719) 822-1229 about our services. Phone: (719) 822-1229 URL: http://www.homecareassistancecsprings.com/ Address: 13395 Voyager Parkway Suite 120Colorado Springs, CO 80921