When I massaged my seventy-three year old father's feet he said, "I need this everyday for the rest of my life!" Seniors everywhere can benefit greatly from Geriatric Massage Therapy. The upsides to seniors getting massage are endless but below are many of the more commonly known and observed benefits.

Elderly Massage Therapy:

1. Increased circulation of Blood and Lymph. Massage therapy already has the wonderful benefit of increasing the circulation of blood and lymph on a regular person, imagine how it can help a senior who may be less active or physically limited.


2. Stronger Immune System. Massage therapy has been shown to improve and strengthen the immune system. Many seniors can be vulnerable due to weaker immune systems and therapeutic touch has been shown to be very effective.

3. Muscle Stiffness. As you age, the muscles become stiffer and need to constantly be stretched out. Massage therapy helps with stiffness and painful conditions due to aging. Keeping muscles more limber helps to prevent injury

4. Less Inflammation in Joints. Massage therapy helps to reduce the inflammation in joints due to the increased circulation of lymph. Lymph fluid carries away the products of inflammation and other toxic debris out of the body.

5. Reduces Anxiety and Depression. Seniors respond very well to massage as it helps to fulfill the need for caring human touch. Getting massage on a regular basis can greatly reduce and get symptoms of anxiety and depression under control.

6. Improved Range of Motion. Seniors can improve their range of motion when getting Massage therapy that incorporates passive stretching and range of motion. The passive movements help seniors to get a better stretch than they can get on their own.

7. Better Attitude. There's nothing like healing touch to perk up someone that needs a little lift. Seniors who get massage therapy on a regular basis have a better outlook on life than those who have no physical contact with others.

8. Improved Alzheimer's and Dementia Symptoms. Therapeutic massage has been shown to improve symptoms of both Alzheimer's and Dementia by reducing agitation and quieting some the symptoms related to both.

9. Greatly Improved Balance and Agility. Therapeutic massage helps to bring awareness to the body of the elderly helping to improve balance, coordination and agility.

10. Controls Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. Since massage therapy helps to lower blood pressure through accessing the Autonomic Nervous System, It's a great alternate way to control the heart rate. Regular massage helps with this by reducing stress levels in seniors.

Elderly Massage Therapy:

Seniors love to be touched and many are starved for regular caring touch. If you've ever considered giving geriatric massage, I can tell you that you'll have a very enthusiastic audience. Anyone still in massage school should consider giving senior massages as a wonderful and rewarding student project. Also, this would be a very special and unique area of focus for someone to practice in.

Lea Johnson has been a practicing licensed massage therapist for almost two decades. She is now thrilled to share her no-nonsense advice to other licensed massage practitioners to help them find their own way into their practice or improve the one they have. http://www.greatmassagetips.com

Reflexology and the Elderly
By Wendy Coad [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Coad]

It seems to me that reflexology and working with the elderly is a match made in heaven. Alternatives to medications are always of interest because they are often safer and with fewer side effects.

People usually seem rejuvenated after a reflexology session (and if not, it's because the body needed to rest a bit more). Reflexology definitely shows results and it's proven all the way back to ancient times.

Not only have nursing homes accepted reflexology as a powerful complementary and alternative massage therapy, reflexology has also found its place in eldercare and hospice.

Reflexology from a well trained reflexologist can do a lot to ensure better health or faster recovery.

Here are some facts that define why reflexology is so essential in hospice and nursing homes:

� Reflexology helps to relieve pain and of course, this makes a person feel good and relaxed. It might reduce the necessity of pain reliever medicines which can have certain side effects, but this will have to be determined by a medical professional only.

� It can really help someone feel rejuvenated with less stiffness and they can carry that into day to day activities with more ease and comfort.

� Blood circulation is increased with reflexology. Increase in circulation ensures speedier recovery. It can also help to improve the lymph, nerve function, muscle function, etc.

� The client can be sitting up or lying down and there's no need to roll over or to disrobe in order to receive and feel the benefits.

� Reflexology helps increase body awareness and is stimulating to the nervous system. Better nerve function can help maintain faster responses and thus able to deal with day to day activities in a better way.

� And, reflexology is safe and compassionate touch, without being too invasive.

The elderly are a large segment of the population and can feel isolated and be lonely, even when they are in facilities like nursing homes. The touch they receive in institutions is mostly for practical purposes and is often mechanical making reflexology a greatly appreciated experience especially because of its attentive and non-invasive qualities.

There are things you need to remember when working with the elderly:

Since the elderly tend to suffer from more illnesses and have more complications from these, always check with a medical professional before beginning to work with anyone who has health issues. This is so much easier to do when the client is in a nursing home or hospice because medical professionals are right there on staff.

Use less pressure when starting to work with an elderly client because their organ systems are older and may be slower than someone who is younger. There's no need to move too deeply or too quickly, certainly not until you have established what the tolerance to the reflexology is, and maybe never if you're working in a hospice setting.

Make the session shorter - there's no need to tax the body. The therapeutic benefits are still there and with a shorter session, you won't be overdoing what they might need or appreciate.

Of course there are always exceptions. I've been working with a client for almost 10 years. She's 94 years young and has been doing yoga for over 50 years. She has the physicality of a 60 year old (one who would be in excellent shape). For longer than I've known her, she's had a massage session and a reflexology session on alternating weeks. She eats well and has never indulged in sweets or desserts.

This is my one exception to the above mentioned rules and also a road map on how to stay healthy and live well.

� Wendy Coad

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE?

You can as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online health and reflexology expert Wendy Coad, a.k.a. - Reflexology Professor - is creator of The Foot Factor Program - the most comprehensive on-line reflexology training program available. She is the author of reflexology books and publishes the popular "Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques" weekly ezine to subscribers from around the world. Get your FREE tips now at http://reflexologyprof.com and join us at the top right corner.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Reflexology-and-the-Elderly&id=6536211] Reflexology and the Elderly

The Health Benefits of Massage Therapy to the Elderly
By Ramir Sarmiento  [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ramir_Sarmiento]