Touching Lives in Eldercare and Hospice

Hello all,

Last night the Center for Compassionate Touch launched our webinar series, Inspire U.  I want to shout out a big THANK YOU to Laura Allen for her presentation about what’s so great about social networking. As a person who has been a little resistant to get on board with social networking I have to say that Laura’s enthusiasm caught my attention! It was also really great to be joined by so many people from  the Compassionate Touch community – many of whom reach back a number of years—as well as welcoming many new folks.  It is part of my mission to be a premiere resource for massage therapists and other care professionals and to connect you to others who can assist you along your path of service. I hope you can join us on June 28 @8pm EST with Ryan Malone of Inside Eldercare. The goal of Ryan’s work is to educate and inspire you to make your elder care experience a positive one for you and your family. 

Speaking of positive experiences—while teaching at a long term care facility over the weekend, I witnessed how massage practitioners can model compassionate behavior for other care staff. There was a young activities staff person who was struggling to calm a woman with dementia who was agitated, yelling out and hitting herself.  The massage therapist asked to join them (the staff person was happy to have some help!).  The therapist sat quietly with the woman at first, joining her world in the moment.  Then she reached out her hand and the woman took her hand and made eye contact. Over the next ten minutes the woman went from yelling and hitting herself to laying her head on the therapist’s shoulder and resting while the therapist gently rubbed her upper back.  All the while, the staff person observed the interaction. That massage therapist made a difference in the quality of life for the elder and that young woman.  That is the magic of our work! 

Take good care and I’ll see you in the “social network”!

Ann

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