Massage is a form of alternative therapy that has many health benefits. In addition to helping to provide a relaxing effect, massage can also relieve some of the symptoms of complaints that you feel. In the elderly, massage can also provide several health benefits.

What is a Geriatric Massage?

Massage is the act of applying pressure to the skin and muscles with certain techniques. You may get a massage service at a salon, spa, or home massage therapist. Some physiotherapists also provide massage with certain techniques.

Massage can be done for all ages, from babies to the elderly. There is a type of massage that is intended for the elderly and is known as geriatric massage, which has massage movements that are specialized for people of advanced age. A massage for the elderly will be tailored to their age as well as any medical conditions they may have to avoid damaging their skin or aggravating conditions they already suffer from.

Regardless of the massage technique used, geriatric massage therapists will differentiate between elderly and adult massage. Some of these massage differences, such as:

• Shorter massage duration
• Massage touches are generally lighter and long touches on the skin are avoided
• Providing additional blankets, bolsters, or cushioning pads to make the massage more comfortable
• Placement of the elderly's body is very important, adapted to their medical condition

Not all conditions of the elderly may be amenable to massage. Before giving a massage, you should consult your doctor first.

Benefits of Geriatric Massage for the Elderly

Geriatric massage for the elderly has many health benefits. Some of the health benefits include:

Relaxing

One of the most common benefits of massage is that it provides a relaxed and positive feeling after a massage. A study in the International Journal of Older People Nursing looked at 14 studies of older people living in nursing homes or residential care who received massages. The study revealed that massage can improve the health and well-being of the group of older people cared for there.

Another study looked at the benefits of hand and foot massage on 12 elderly people who needed long-term care. The study revealed that the elderly could experience positive feelings after receiving hand and foot massages.

Helps you sleep better

Apart from making the body more relaxed, massage can also help you sleep better. For the elderly, sleeplessness is one of the health problems that can be experienced daily. Giving a massage at bedtime can make the elderly body more relaxed so that she sleeps better.

Relieves stress

Reporting from Healthline, a clinical study on people with dementia revealed that massage for 6 weeks helped reduce stress and aggressive behavior. Dementia in the elderly can cause impaired cognitive function in the elderly daily.

Other benefits of geriatric massage for the elderly include reducing pain, restoring mobility, and increasing strength. Geriatric massage and physical therapy can also help with some of the most common conditions faced by the elderly, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, incontinence, and hip and joint problems.

Massaging the elderly is different from massaging adults or babies. The elderly who have some health problems, such as osteoarthritis or other health problems, may have certain areas that should not be massaged too hard.

If you want to give geriatric massage to the elderly at home, then you should first know the overall health condition of the elderly, whether there are parts that feel painful, whether there are parts that should not be massaged, and whether there are effects of drugs consumed on the body that affect the massage. 

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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