“The goal of geriatric massage is not to achieve momentary relaxation but a noticeable improvement in a specific age-related condition that responds to massage.”
DAYBREAK Geriatric Massage Institute
The journeys of our lives are all different. Some of us arrive at our fifth decade and beyond hale and healthy, nearly as strong as we were in our twenties. For others, the adventures of our lives have brought the extra challenges of accidents or ill health. As one wise old therapist put it, “While there may be typical 20-year olds, there are no typical 70 year-olds.”
Who should get a massage?
Competitive Senior Athletes appreciate restorative massage techniques that can assist their bodies in overcoming the cumulative effects of overuse and injury and aid in post-event recovery.
Active Seniors have lifestyles that sometimes result in strain, overuse, misuse and accidents. They enjoy the effects of massage on stiff joints, achy muscles, a sore back and tired feet.
Frail Seniors who manage one or more serious, chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, or dementia, may experience profound results from skillful, compassionate touch.
Whatever your lifestyle, there is a perfect style of massage for you!
Keep in Touch. Request a Massage for Seniors today
A SAGE Massage for Seniors involves more than just applying standard or spa-style massage techniques using lighter pressure. It is a safe, specialized approach for massaging older adults using methods originally developed by the DAYBREAK Geriatric Massage Institute. This style of massage lubricates dry skin, manipulates and softens tight muscles and ligaments, gently moves stiff joints, and stimulates dulled nerve endings.
Massage for Seniors can be given to clients using a massage table, seated in a chair or wheelchair or to those who are bedridden. Clients are positioned face-down, face-up, side-lying or sitting depending on their specific health history and preference and do not need to change positions or turn over during the session.
Your SAGE Geriatric Massage
There are no routine massages for the older client. You bring a unique, complicated life history that must be understood and accounted for in every session.
Because of the potential stress that massage puts on the body, a standard Massage for Seniors session is 30 minutes long.
You will fill out a brief, confidential health questionnaire before each session. If necessary, the therapist may require a medical release to obtain additional information. Health questionnaire, informed consent, and medical release forms may be downloaded from this site and completed ahead of your scheduled session.
You will have a brief interview before your massage to discuss your goals for the session, any issues (for example, your health concerns, medications, pain, or allergies) that may affect your massage and specific areas of your body that you want (or don’t want) massaged in the session (for example, your head, face, hands, or feet).
Once you are positioned safely and comfortably, you do not need to change positions.
Your therapist will use a variety of safe, focused, and purposeful manual techniques designed to improve blood circulation and heart function, relieve muscle tension, release stress-fighting chemicals, and relax the body and the mind.
Depending on your health and session goals, the therapist may gently move and stretch your shoulders, hips, ankles, or feet to improve joint mobility and flexibility.
Gentle massaging and stretching of your hands and feet (if the joints are not inflamed) will help prevent stiffness and relieve pain.
Keep in Touch. Request a Massage for Seniors today.
Potential Benefits of SAGE Massage for Seniors
While not every person will experience all of these benefits, published medical and massage research suggests that massage may produce profound benefits.
* Ease headache and pain perception;
* Speed up healing from injury and illness;
* Partially restore mobility lost due to disease or disuse;
* Improve the length and quality of sleep;
* Provide “body awareness” and improve balance;
* Create a sense of well-being, relaxation, and safety;
* Relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness;
* Improve client’s quality of life and self-esteem.
A word about words
Although many 70+year-olds lead enviable lives rich with physical activity and mental stimulation, most people notice the early effects of aging around the age of 65. Consequently, SAGE Massage uses the terms "elderly, older, aged, and senior" without judgment or prejudice to refer to anyone over the age of 65. We use the term "geriatric" to include medical and social science-based approaches dealing with the health and medical welfare of seniors.
Keep in Touch. Request a Massage for Seniors
