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Assisted Living home massage

Just want to know if any of you have done massage at a Assisted Living Home for elderly people
Was it voluntary work or paid? Did you offer chair massage or table massage or both?, The assisted living home here is like 5 star, is not a nursing home, I guess what I'm trying to say I believe this people may have the money to pay for it, I still need to get all the details when I go talk to them, but I want to go with a plan in mind, I just want some opinions, Thanks

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Permalink Reply by amy jo aylward on September 2, 2010 at 1:13pm

Hi Maria -- I am copying and pasting (below) my reply to a similar question on the Geriatric Massage group (on this site). I hope it helps ?? Also, by copying it here, I'm hoping even more members of this site will have input.

""I am a recent grad of massage school with the intention of working with seniors. I have already marketed myself to one local independent/assisted living community (where my mom happens to be a resident) by approaching the administration (with cover letter and resume) and offering my services to their residents.

I had a difficult decision to make regarding "pricing" as I know how much the monthly rent is ($2000 to $6000 -- depending on how much care an individual requires), and these seniors come from an era of "watching their pennies" and have a difficult time spending their precious dollars on what many may regard as a frivolous "pleasure." But, I also felt that the massage profession deserves the respect, and compensation, of a fair fee.

So, to answer your first question -- yes, include a price sheet. This demographic is both curious about massage and cautious with their spending, and I have found they want to know right up front whether or not it will fit into their budget.

I actually performed a "massage demo" for a group of about 25 seniors (at said community) to show them what massage is all about, tell them what it could do for them, and explain my services. I offered a coupon for "Get Your 1st Massage Free" (one body part, their choice). Five of the residents signed up for their "freebie" immediately after my presentation, another 3 did so in the following week. Of those, 2 have made appointments for a massage where they will actually pay for the service. (A third resident was already a regular client.)

My pricing: I felt that seniors (who are conservative with money) would be more likely to give it a try if given a "discount." My regular prices are $1 per minute, with this community receiving a 25% discount ($0.75 per minute). I am charging "by the minute" so they can choose the length of a session that fits their budget (10 minute minimum). That brings the cost of a half-hour session to $22. And since many of these massages will occur in wheelchairs or beds, I don't have the laundry expenses, etc.

I am going to stay with this pricing for the time being, but may look at lowering my prices if I feel more residents would participate. I should also tell you that I am not in this to "make money," nor am I looking for full-time work. My life situation allows me to offer massage to seniors for THEIR benefit, not for MY income. But again, I feel that the massage profession is worthy of a reasonable fee.

Please do let me know what fees you have decided on, and what kind of response you've had.""

AJAylward

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Permalink Reply by Maria Daniela Mohr on September 2, 2010 at 1:48pm

Amy, thank you so much for sharing, this is kinda what I had in mind!

amy jo aylward said:

Hi Maria -- I am copying and pasting (below) my reply to a similar question on the Geriatric Massage group (on this site). I hope it helps ?? Also, by copying it here, I'm hoping even more members of this site will have input.

""I am a recent grad of massage school with the intention of working with seniors. I have already marketed myself to one local independent/assisted living community (where my mom happens to be a resident) by approaching the administration (with cover letter and resume) and offering my services to their residents.

I had a difficult decision to make regarding "pricing" as I know how much the monthly rent is ($2000 to $6000 -- depending on how much care an individual requires), and these seniors come from an era of "watching their pennies" and have a difficult time spending their precious dollars on what many may regard as a frivolous "pleasure." But, I also felt that the massage profession deserves the respect, and compensation, of a fair fee.

So, to answer your first question -- yes, include a price sheet. This demographic is both curious about massage and cautious with their spending, and I have found they want to know right up front whether or not it will fit into their budget.

I actually performed a "massage demo" for a group of about 25 seniors (at said community) to show them what massage is all about, tell them what it could do for them, and explain my services. I offered a coupon for "Get Your 1st Massage Free" (one body part, their choice). Five of the residents signed up for their "freebie" immediately after my presentation, another 3 did so in the following week. Of those, 2 have made appointments for a massage where they will actually pay for the service. (A third resident was already a regular client.)

My pricing: I felt that seniors (who are conservative with money) would be more likely to give it a try if given a "discount." My regular prices are $1 per minute, with this community receiving a 25% discount ($0.75 per minute). I am charging "by the minute" so they can choose the length of a session that fits their budget (10 minute minimum). That brings the cost of a half-hour session to $22. And since many of these massages will occur in wheelchairs or beds, I don't have the laundry expenses, etc.

I am going to stay with this pricing for the time being, but may look at lowering my prices if I feel more residents would participate. I should also tell you that I am not in this to "make money," nor am I looking for full-time work. My life situation allows me to offer massage to seniors for THEIR benefit, not for MY income. But again, I feel that the massage profession is worthy of a reasonable fee.

Please do let me know what fees you have decided on, and what kind of response you've had.""

AJAylward

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Permalink Reply by Lorrie J. LMT, CKTP on September 4, 2010 at 1:33pm

Hi Maria,
I have had geriatric clients in my practice for most of my 12 years. Some I see in their home, some in assisted living homes. Some I can treat on my table, others I have to see in their beds, on just a few occasions I have used my chair. I have found that being as flexable as possible is necessary as sometimes they may be able to get on your table when you first start seeing them but as their health declines you may have to see them bedside. Also it goes without saying that this population has a variety of health precautions to take into consideration before and during the times you are seeing them. I have always charged my regular fee ($70) per hour session, and have stayed consistently busy. I get regular referals from an R.N. that does elder home care and from family members of the clients I see. Hopes this helps a bit.