The Benefits of Massage Therapy in Seniors with Dementia

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The Benefits of Massage Therapy in Seniors with
Dementia
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Description

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