Posted under Marketing Massage for Special Populations & Massage for Elders & General
Hi All,
Lola’s comments reflect the question that many massage therapists ask: “How can I get paid for providing services to hospice or elders who reside in nursing homes?” This is an important question and the answer is multi-faceted. Over the years I have met many massage therapists who generously volunteer their services to care for individuals in hospice care. I’ve even had some therapist say to me ” This is such sacred work, I don’t feel right charging for it.”
I think the decision to provide our services as volunteers is a highly personal decision. I do some hospice volunteer work myself. For me, it is a way to give something back- a gesture of gratitude. That said, I’d like to offer this for you to ponder. The service we provide as massage therapists has value, no matter what the setting and we should be asking to be compensated for what we do. That includes nursing facilities, hospitals, home care and hospice settings. We offer those we touch a profoundly healing experience that requires our professional skills. So the question still stands- how can I get paid?
I am seeing massage therapists around the country being paid by hospice groups, by nursing facilities and by families of elders who are in facility care. Things are shifting in our favor. Here are three situations I know of, representing three different funding resources.
1. A nursing facility in pays a massage therapist an hourly rate for up to 12 hours per month to provide massage for the elders there. The administrator sees the value added to her facility by offering this innovative complementary service. The money comes from the marketing budget because it is attractive to her potential customers.
2. A hospice pays for massage sessions for their patients by using money from a fund that was created for added services. The money for the fund comes from donations.
3. Elders in a facility who recieve state medicaid money each month may use some of the monthly “personal needs” money for massage.
What are you seeing regarding this issue? How do you feel about it? How might we be agents of change? I would love to hear from you. Let’s talk!
Be Well,
Ann
Tina Bross on 01 Feb 2008 at 7:51 am #
Hello,
As the Supervisor of Holistic Services at Hospice of Cincinnati, I would like to comment on the priceless contribution of volunteers. I oversee a paid staff of 4 (1 LMT, 1 art therapist, 1 music therapist, and 1 holistic RN) and a volunteer staff of about 60! We provide art, music, massage, Healing Touch, Reiki, aromatherapy and pet therapy to our patients. On average, we have nearly 600 patients in our program on a daily basis. If it were not for my selfless, generous, loving volunteers, we would not be able to meet the needs of but a few patients. My volunteers share stories with me all the time about the value and richness of their time spent with our patients. Their ‘compensation’ may not come in the form of a paycheck, but rather from the love, compassion, nurturing and healing that takes place. Some of my volunteers are retired, some are newly out of massage school. Some are older, some younger - and we all have bills to pay, but volunteering has touched them in a place deep in their hearts and I am grateful for their dedication to our patients. I hope that all that have an interest in the hospice population consider giving some of your time, talent, love, and energy to those at the end of life. Volunteering ROCKS!!!!!
[reply to this comment]
Sandra reply on February 14, 2008:
I was a hospice volunteer for one year and yes, “it rocked.” Unfortunately the facility closed down so I went to a hospital where I now massage dying and seriously ill patients and their family members.
This experience has taught me a lot, it is most rewarding and fulfilling. My plan is to do it as long as I can.
Sandra