Integrative Massage Therapy for
Elderly Individuals
Although most of us would like to believe that life becomes easier as we age, growing older
tends to bring us different challenges, not less or easier challenges. We each have available, in
varying degrees, our inner resource of wisdom and our outer resource of community. The
integrative massage therapist can be a unique and valuable community resource. As an
integrative massage therapist, Elisabeth supports the individual's growth and ability to live with
grace and dignity.
Physical
Integrative massage therapy promotes healing and can help to provide relief from pain or
discomfort associated with common problems experienced by the elderly such as:
• edema
• arthritis
• neuralgia
• post-acute fractures
• muscular strain or weakness
• poor circulation
• contractures
• sleep difficulties
• fatigue
Emotional
The elderly individual, just as so many of the rest of us in contemporary society, often is
confronted with depersonalization, over simulation, and numerous demands. Vulnerabilities related to aging make coping with these and other stresses especially difficult and may result in a variety of symptoms. Integrative massage therapy may help to increase a sense of well-being and decrease:
• anxiety
• depression
• confusion
Spiritual
Each stage of development presents us with different developmental task, some of which relate to our spiritual nature. Among these tasks are the need for life review, the need for discernment of what is important to pass on to subsequent generations and the need for peace with the knowledge of one’s mortality. Integrative massage therapy can support spiritual strength by facilitating:
• gratitude
• groundedness
• self-appreciation
• creativity
• appropriate grief
• here and now experience
