THE BENEFITS OF GERIATRIC MASSAGE

Last week I have handed in my assignment. It was on the benefits of massage for the elderly people. I used the internet database to search for data and publications that people have done on this topic.

I then put all this information into my essay. It was difficult for me to read some of this because my English is not so good. I use Google translator to help me understand. Also I have a translator app to help me convert to Chinese.

Doing this research has helped me understand the benefits that massage can have for elderly people. 

There are four categories age groups:

1.            55 - 64 as older adult,

2.            65 - 74 as elderly adult,

3.            75 – 85 as aged adult,

4.            85 years and older.

Identify benefits such as

·         Sleeping Better

·         A Reduction In Stress

·         Relief From Arthritis And Chronic Pain

·         Increased Recovery Time From Surgeries

·         Better Circulation

·         Lower Blood Pressure

·         Relief From Some Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Also I found tips to help you when working with elderly people such as:

•       Reduce pressure, limit stretches, & joint movements

•       Shorter sessions for frail clients

•       Inspect feet

•       Guard against chilling

•       Guard against falling

•       Be patient and reverent

When working with geriatric people you can identify these things

•       Decreased subcutaneous fat

•       Increased bruising from reduced

•        Support of vessels

•       Reduced temperature regulation

•       Wrinkles and sags

•       Reduced elasticity

•       Becomes more thin and frail

•       Tears more easily

•       Heals more slowly

•       Ribs calcify and chest wall becomes rigid

•       Thoracic movement is reduced

•       Lung capacity is decreased

•       Heart enlarges

•       Vascular Walls Thicken and narrow

•       Blood pressures increases

•       Circulation decreases

•       Person may fatigue more easily and have dizzy spells

•       Increased varicosities and blood clot formation in legs – especially in sedentary clients

•       Decreased gastric secretions

•       Slowed digestion

•       Increased heartburn

•       Decreased tone of sphincter muscles

•       Fecal incontinence

•       Decreased muscle mass

•       Decreased bone mass

•       Decreased strength

•       Reduced flexibility

•       Altered gait

•       Articular cartilage erodes

•       Synovial fluid production decreases

•       Discs dehydrate and narrow

•       Increased instances of osteoporosis (women), osteoarthritis, and kyphosis

•       Decreased cerebral blood flow

•       Nerve degeneration

•       Reduced response time

•        Loss or increased sensitivity to pain

•       Decreased cold tolerance

•       Decreased balance and coordination

•       Altered gait

•       Pupils decrease in size

•       Increased cataracts

•       Less light enters eyes

•       Walls of auditory canals thin

•       Eardrums thicken

•       Vision impairments are common

•       Hearing impairments are common

•       Decreased bladder capacity

•       Incomplete Bladder emptying

•       Urinary urgency

•       Decreased tone in sphincter muscles

•       Urinary incontinence