Hi Lisa,
I'm a hospice chaplain and massage therapist, and I work for a holistic hospice where I use bodywork and energy work with the patients. I'm doing Irene Smith's course on Massage in Hospice at the beginning of August - www.everflowing.org . I'm glad you created this group. I just started working in hospice in March, so I'm interested in all the information and resources that might be out there.

Hi Lucy!
So glad you joined-please spread the word! I am SO happy for you that you get to study with Irene-she is an amazing teacher and one of my mentors-I was so thrilled to see her and study with her at the symposium Hand in Hand 2009 in Orlando this past May. She truly allows others to find a deep place of compassion and healing in themselves through her work.

I will be doing therapy with my dad in two weeks, who is 71, and has had 2 major strokes 3 months ago. He lost complete use of left side of his body, some vision and some speech. He has regained a little more than 50% of leg use, speech is improving, has complete feeling in left arm but no use of it. Need feed back about what kind of therapies to specifically do with him. I am planning on doing hydro-therapy. Need to know, I was thinking if I put a patch over right would cause him to strain the left eye, which in return would cause the right side of his brain to be activated. Am I off base or are there also other things I can do to help him with recovery? thanks laura

Hello
I am so glad to find this group.
I will be looking forward to learning and sharing stories and information on what I think are a very special group of people.
I started volunteering with the seniors in the Fall of 2007 at a retirement home.
And I have not stopped ,only to get more involved with them .
Since Fall of 08 I now get hired by some of the residents at 3 homes.
I have been trying for some time now to be able to schedule a workshop in my life. As well as be the host for one. I live up in northern Michigan.
But my schedule has so far not allowed it to happen.
I am hoping to attend one next month in Indiana.
Thanks for forming this group.

I have a friend named David who was diagnosed with prostate cancer which grew very quickly and eventually attached and grew up his spine.. David went through chemo, operations, allergic reactions to medicines, and ended going from 180lbs to 90lbs in a matter of 4 months.
The last three weeks of Davids life were extremely painful for him. In order to help relieve some of Davids suffering, I would reposition his body in a side lying position put a pillow between his knees, with one leg flexed into his upper trunk while I worked on the reflexes of his other foot to help with his overall circulation, I would reverse his leg position and work on the reflexes of the other foot as well. The result? David had reduced pain levels, less edema in his lower legs and feet, much more relaxed and rested better through the night. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to care for my friend in the last days of his life. David died January 2nd at 5:30pm. I was able to get home from work 1/2 hour after he died and hold his hand that was still slightly warm, for the last time.

Death can seem so final, yet this person continues to live in my heart, as well as Gods memory.

Scott,
Thanks for that beautiful story-those are truly sacred moments.

I have been a volunteer in the palliative care you at a hospital for almost 3 years, following 2 years as a hospice volunteer. At the same time, my Dad, who has Alzheimer's Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, is a cancer survivor, is a diabetic and recently lost his vision, has resided in a nursing home for the past 32 years. He will be 90 years old in a couple of months and lives with very little medication. I started massaging my Dad about 5 years ago and he looks forward to the sessions. My Dad does not know my name but he knows my hands. Whenever I place my hands on his back, he gives me a jerky laugh and say, "You're going to give me a massage." Working with my dad helps me in my work with patients and caregivers at the hospital.

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NSLPN.COM Lists Thousands of New Senior Care Jobs

Thanks for sharing Sandra and welcome to our group! I would like to create a Discussion Topic of Practice Development tools for therapists who are currently working in or considering serving this special population. Please add your 'Tips from the Field"!

hello all!

I am recent graduate of the Oncology Massage Program at Institute of Therapeutic Massage (NJ). While the main focus of the program was cancer patients, we also learned about other pathologies and palliative care in general. I continue to volunteer at the hospital where we did our hands-on hours, and hope to be hired by their hospice once their hiring freeze is lifted in September. I enjoy bringing a little bit of comfort to my patients and am excited to hear about others' experience working with the medically frail.

Hi folks, I've been working with the elderly folks for just over three years and it's really been a blessing for me. These folks have so much to look forward to. They miss the plain old just human touch aspect of healing. I'm fortunate to work with patients that have some mobility. They are so over medicated that you wonder just how they are alive. That makes some forms of massage contraindicative. However not all forms have to be eliminated. AIS is something that I've introduced to the geriatric populus and it has been a great hit where I'm at. You have to tailor it for them but it really works and they come back for more. Their muscles are more tight simply because they just don't hydrate as often. So getting them to hydrate is a real challenge because one main gripe is that they have to get up too many times during the night. sorry I rambled on!

Rudy, I am right there with you on the hydration issue. I feel so bad for the elderly that are not able to even get to their water when they want it . I have one lady who is quadraplegic. She states she is often thirsty, but the aids just fill her water jug and set on on her night stand. She cannot even move. She is a very kind woman and does not want to ask for anyting. I try to get as much water down her as possible when I am ther, but 2 times a week just doesn't get it in the hydration issue. The aids are just too overworked, and often just don't care. It is a real pet peeve of mine.

Great article by Ann Catlin posted today on Massage Today-
Massage and Alzheimer’s Disease

Rudy
What is AIS?

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I have been a competitvely paid Massage Therapist for hospice for almost 7 years. At this time, I have approx. 22 visits per week. I am an independent contractor and love the work!

Noreen, AIS is Active Isolated Stretchging. Check out stretchingusa.com or Aaron Mattes in google. Incredible tool for getting people that are having leg, shoulder, and neck pains. You simply apply a light dose of AIS and they think you're more powerful than a doctor. Of course you must have some sense of the way older muscles can be rather brittle or stringy dry. Again due to the lack of hydration, which you must convince them that hydrating is better in most cases to help moisten the organs and soft tissues. AIS allows you to work fully clothed lying down, side lying, sitting, or prone positions. Most elderly don't move about like they used to even as recently as five years ago. Injuries, medications, emotional trauma, loss of balance, these all contribute to the reasons why their muscles tend to be somewhat tightened and tense most of their wakened time. They are afraid to fall! Imagine having that fear everytime you ambulate. That's scary! Anyway Adjusting AIS for the geriatric community is the way to go, along with your other touch modalities.I recommend a basic seminar in AIS with a certified AIS trainer or with Aaron himself.

Jagruti,

I 'd love to hear more about your experiences! How did you get engaged with your patients? What does your pricing structure look like? What are some tips you would share with other therapists who are interested in doing this work?

Lisa

Great article
Eldercare and Caregiver Burnout - Your "Caring" May Be Contributing...

Hi all,
Thanks, Lisa, for setting up this group-- it serves us all to connect with like-minded people. While at an airport recently someone left behind their Sept. issue of Oprah and I opened it to an article called Do You Have Compassion Fatigue? Burnout/fatigue is an issue not only for family caregivers, but professionals, too. This forum for connecting with others is one small way to take care of ourselves. Thanks!

Great post on CareBuzz
"But just because it occurs doesn’t mean it’s okay. Take a stand against it with these tips for abolishing ageism:"
6 Tips for Abolishing Ageism

I am looking for an AIS seminar or further info...is there anything AIS that is specifically tied in with geriatric work or have you just adapted it?

Great new post from Irene Smith of Everflowing
Professional Integrity; An Ongoing Process