Posted under General & Hospice massage & Marketing Massage for Special Populations & Massage for Elders
Hi again,
Last week I participated in the Florida State Massage Therapy Association convention in Orlando. Congratulations to those hard-working folks who organized and hosted a stellar event! My role this year was to take part in the exhibit hall talking with therapists about serving people in eldercare and hospice. The diversity of people in massage therapy is striking. Believe me standing on a trade show floor for 3 days will give you a good look! Today we have 20 year olds just starting a career; 55 year olds looking to have a new career in “retirement” ; and all ages in between. Men and women. Caucasian, Latino; African American; Asian.  How does this relate to serving people in eldercare and hospice? Old age and illness knows no ethnic boundaries. I see our long term care communities becoming more blended. The blend may change depending on what part of the country you live in. For example in the Midwest we have more Spanish-speaking elders entering our healthcare system and nursing homes. A facility I visited in the Northwest had many Asian residents. A North Dakota facility had many Native American residents. As the population of the United States becomes more diverse it is essential that care professions reflect that diversity. I’m glad to see that represented in the individuals making up the massage therapy profession.
Take care, Ann
