Posted under Marketing Massage for Special Populations & Massage for Elders & General
What Are Old People For? is the title of an interesting book by William Thomas, M.D. who explores the social significance of our elders. One particular statement jumped out at me that I want to share with you: “A society that cultivates the ability to bring a life worth living to the least among us enriches itself beyond measure. When we honor those who can do nothing for others, we enlarge a capacity for compassion that serves all people”.
I’ve witnessed this on an individual level when I offer massage and touch the very old person who is no longer able to do for others, but rather must rely on others for daily survival. During those moments, my own heart’s capacity for compassion is open and expanded. But Dr. Thomas takes that personal experience to a different level- a collective one. If we, as a society, are willing to honor our old people, then we will be rewarded with a greater sense of compassion for the whole. I’ve often told my students that when we touch the one, we really touch the whole because our caring intention ripples out into the world. It seems Dr. Thomas would agree! So, what are old people for? Your thoughts?
Timothy Nickel on 03 Apr 2008 at 11:22 am #
Some of the work Dr. Thomas is engaged in has to do with the improvement of living conditions for institutionalized elders. He calls it the Eden Alternative. He is part of a culture change process
within the institutionalized elderly community. For a culture to change there needs to be a change in the collective consciousness of those in that environment, both those who receive the care and those who provide the care. If we cannot envision the possible change, either individually or collectively, it will never come to fruition. The work of psycho-spiritually healthy massage therapists and practitioners of all forms of touch therapy can be foundational in creating culture change within the living environments of elders. The calm, the peace, the spiritual attune-ment (at one-ment) of the practitioner will be seen and felt not only by the elder receiving the touch experience, but the energy that comes with presence will be seen by staff of that facility and family members of that elder. Regarding elder care, it can be different. We, as care providers, are blessed and the responsibility of that blessing is to share our blessings with others.
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Elizabeth on 04 Apr 2008 at 9:18 pm #
Old people are my heroes. I am currently getting together a volunteer group to visit with the elderly. The elderly have the wisdom of living. They have gone through cycles of life most of us can only imagine. I often say that I think we should all be students of life from age 15 to age 55. Between these ages I feel we should seek wisdom from our elders and share it with our youth. The elders are here to remind us of where we have been and where we shall go. They are the rolling stones that manifest as mountains.
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