Advice Please

[Raely]

Hi everyone

I have been asked to do some massage in a block of flats that mostly old people live in.

A relative of mine who is disabled lives there and they have a community room which the manages said I can use free of charge.

I would love to do it but I am worried about the consultation form as I know many of them will be on medication because they are elderly.

Would I be better just sticking to simple hand massage or would you also offer shoulder and neck massage. I am a little worried about contraindications with them been on medication.

Also I would need to have quite a few people or it would not be worth me going out. I thought I would do a free trial first or maybe half price for first treatment.

No done any massage since my pamper evening in November so I am a little apprehensive especially as they are elderly people but would love to do it.

Any advice would be most welcome

 

[qgespuytislislexu]

I don't do massage, just reflexology, so forgive me if I don't answer this correctly, but I believe that there are very few conditions or medications that are truly contraindicated, just times when you need to work with cautiona dn within your own limitations. I did some work at a nursing home with the elderly and there was only one case that I wasn't happy to treat without GP consent as he was on heart medication. The GP wouldn't answer my query as he claimed he didn't know enough about reflexology to give an answer, so I just gave a short hand massage instead.

I'm sure they will find your massage very therapeutic, especiallyt hose that are suffering joint pain or circulation problems. I'd enourage you to go for it - it will be a very useful experience.

Sarah x

 

[Julie E]

Hi Rose,

I am currently doing VTCT body massage course and love to give the elderly massage for free. It would be good for my practice. I live in East London area. If thats any good.

Take care

Charles

 

[Dapper Dan]

Hi Rose
Ok, do your normal consultation..dont worry if they cannot remember the names of their medication as long as they can tell you whats its for...
watch out for newly prescribed Blood Pressure Tablets or heart conditions.
Also any insulin takers....

Bear in mind their skin can be much more fragile and thinner you could maybe do a mix of grapeseed and evening primrose to help moisturise.

I have many older people in my clinics my eldest being around 87 i think and i have never had any problem. So just follow your instinct and remember you are the qualified therapist and trust your judgement.

Any questions feel free to drop me a line.
Hugs
Tracy

 

[deanyourfriendinky]

I did this for my project, if you do ask for a consultation, and something sounds serious always check with their gp, I found I had no problem, working with them. I just did a very gentle massage, as I thought doing swedish would be to hard for them, as they are frail. If you do swedish only use effleurage and petrissage, but go easy on the petrissage. DO NOT use taportment, (contra-indication) to frail people.

Enjoy it, it is a worthwhile experience, and they love being pampered, and having someone look after them, some of the people do not see anyone, barr their animals. Good luck with it, let us know how you got on.

 

[LionLove]

What type of massage do you do on elderly - is it just hand massage

Also if they have blood pressure/diabetes/ do I need GP approval just for hand massage.

Sorry I know I have done all the training but I am just very cautious

 

[#2 yankeesfan]

Hi Rose

Just because someone is old does not mean you cannot treat them as you would treat anyone else, they are a little more prone to bruising with their thin skin but apart from that you still need to treat each one as an individual.

They enjoy massage the same as everyone else some of my patients are in their nineties and I have several in the mid eighties who are still very active and some enjoy a fool body massage, they would not appreciate it if I tried to wrap them up in cotton wool, getting old is not a disease it is a natural process and it is your job to help them become more mobile

 

[juls4pj]

I have been working in a residential nursing home, for the last 4 years, giving some of the residents 15 minute aromatherapy massage treaments. I use a low dilution. I usually work on hands, knees and feet. I have't had any problems, and they all thoroughly enjoy it.
good luck and trust your instinct.

 

[Fienueguge]

As a matter of interest, Hotpepper, do the residents of the home get referred to you, or is it up to you to do consultations and find out any contraindications, etc, or do you just use a general blend of oils on all of them?

The reason I ask is that I've been asked by a local respite home for disabled people to go along for a day as part of their 'Holistic Week' and give holistic massage. They already have people doing aromatherapy and reflexology, so this is all they want me to do and each client is going to book me in for half an hour.

Now without wishing to generalise or patronise (as this is an unknown quantity for me), many of the residents will be in wheelchairs and some may have mental disabilities or have difficulty communicating - I won't really know until I get there.

I plan to take my couch with me, but probably many of them wont be able to use it, so I thought I would give them hand or foot massage (hardly holistic I know), perhaps with a little blended lavender. The only thing that does concern me is contraindications such as history of thrombosis or embolism, etc and other possible complicatons and whether this information will be forthcoming or not.

Has anyone else ever done anything like this and how did you do it.

Hope I didn't hijack Rose's post, but thought it was similar.

Lesley

 

[Aqua]

Lesley, why aren't hand and foot massages 'holistic'?[&:] I don't agree. I think that in the circumstances you will be working in you will be doing something very holistic and beneficial. Whatever little bit you can do is good, right?

We get a lot of people over 70. Most are very sprightly and even those that aren't don't want treating with kid gloves. You will be surprised at the different type of people that you will see at a senior residential home. I would aim for hand and foot massages and give seated chair massage to the ones that want that - I just adapt Indian Head massage for that and spend time working on their shoulders.

Remember, you know much more than them and they won't be looking to fault you, so don't worry.

 

[~*Biracial?Sweetie*~]

Aromababe - don't worry about hijacking my messages - any information is always welcome - we never stop learning. Just wish I had everyone elses confidence to get going.

 

[IN CHARGE]

Rose,

You do have the confidence to go at a pace that suits you and if and when the time is right for you, you may decide to increase that pace - it really doesn't matter.

I have a friend (we qualified together) who thinks in a similar way to you. She's gone for an interview today at a hospital and I had to give her a pep talk this morning before she went, but she knew all the answers, just didn't have the confidence. I know that once she gets going she'll be fine, but she won't believe it.

I think the key is not to compare yourself with anyone else. You are unique and you have loads to offer (and as far as I can see, you are finding new opportunities).

By all means ask advice - we all do it and this is such a great place for support. But trust your knoweldge and your intuition and most of all ENJOY!

Lesley

 

[butter beans]

Rose, Please don't try to worry to much. Confidence will come in time and each new experience will help your confidence to grow. Good luck with this opportunity!

Sarah x

 

[WinterNights]

Hi aromababe
I use a general blend for my clients. I only have 3 at the moment. One has parkinsons one has motor neurones and the 3rd has an arm and hand that has seized up. I work independently from the home.I have had a 1 or2 refered to me from the staff over the years. I did advertise with their brochure for a while but I am in the process of thinking about giving it up. I want to get back into doing body massage, rather than hands & feet only. But thats another story. The girl who was doing it before me used oils such as Corriander, ginger,fennel. I change my oils every few months. At the moment the blend is Mandarin and lemon. Perhaps you could check with the staff before hand to find out about contra-indications. Or speak to the aromahterapist.
good luck and have fun