Massage Therapy For Older Adults

Geriatric massage is a fancy term for massage therapy for older adults.

Senior citizens are 70 years old and up according to my massage therapy textbook. This crowd is now the fastest growing group of massage clients!

If you are a massage therapist, you will probably see quite a few seniors in your practice so it is important to learn a bit about these valuable clients and how to provide massage therapy for older adults.

As we get older, our bodies change and it is good to be aware of this before you give geriatric massage. Here in the U.S., we do not place enough value on our seniors. It is time to change that way of thinking. We can learn so much from them. As massage therapists, we must give seniors the respect they are due.

First of all, vision and hearing losses are common as people age so be aware of this. When a senior fills out the client intake form and also when you are conducting the pre-massage interview, the client may have trouble reading the form and hearing you. Schedule a little extra time for this.

Don't shout and don't be rude. Speak in a clear normal voice and face the client when you do. Sometimes, seeing you speak helps the senior to understand what you are saying. Answer questions and use simple language--no medical jargon. Try to be as attentive and patient as possible.

Because so many of the elderly are on fixed incomes (social security and/or retirement checks), you can consider giving seniors a discount--either a flat discount for all seniors and/or special discounts for low-income senior clients.

Know that deep work and kneading should not be used on seniors unless their attending physician orders it. The skin is wrinkled and feels paper thin and fragile and can be easily damaged and bruised. The blood vessels are also thinner. Circulation may be impaired.

Some seniors experience more sensitivity to pain as they age and some lose some of their sensitivity to pain. Always ask each client about your pressure. Bones are not as strong as they once were and the joints are not as flexible.

Do a shorter, less vigorous geriatric massage routine for seniors and watch joint mobilizations which can possibly injure the seniors due to the loss of bone strength.

When finished, help the senior to sit up if this was a table massage. Assist him/her off of the table or massage chair to a standing position. Wait until he/she is standing steadily on his/her own as dizziness can be experienced due to a drop in blood pressure from getting up.

A little extra listening and understanding may be asked of you when you give massage therapy for older adults but senior citizens deserve it.

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