Reflexology for Senior Wellness
Reflexologists Help to Enhance the Quality of Life in the Elderly
For some, the process of aging is graceful, with very few attacks on their health or mental faculties. Others experience a myriad of conditions associated with aging – osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, decrease or loss of senses such as sight or hearing, and high cholesterol to name a few.
Reflexologists do not claim to extend the life of their clients, but to assist in the quality of it. Maybe that will mean a day free of pain for one person or a week of regular bowel movements for another. Maintenance sessions might be planned weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or as needed.
Better Foot Health and Balance with Reflexology
Sessions can help a senior have a better awareness of her feet through the stimulation of the nerve endings. This in turn may help to improve her balance and gait which will have her feeling more confident about moving around unassisted.
One woman who had been retired from work for over six years was experiencing regular foot pain and numbness. She was unable to feel gravel under her shoes or the changes in a paved sidewalk. This led to frequent accidents and was very embarrassing for her to go out in public. After a series of foot reflexology sessions, the client was experiencing better circulation in her legs and feet and noticed her gait and ground awareness had improved remarkably. She was able to keep up with daily homework which consisted of two-minute increments on a foot roller followed by 20 minutes in warmed socks.
In other cases, reflexology has been tremendously helpful for clients recovering from hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery or bunion surgery. Some aging reflexology clients feel the sessions will maintain or extend their current level of foot and leg health and use the treatments as prevention.
Reflexology for Memory Loss, Dementia and Mental Complaints
There are a number of reflexologists who specialize in working with clients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders in the elderly. They may have a private office, make outcalls to an assisted living center or visit the client in her place of residence.
Studies on reflexology for dementia and memory loss suggest this would be an appropriate condition for self-help reflexology techniques. A caretaker or loved one could rub the appropriate reflex locations on a daily or weekly basis. Don’t expect overnight results though – some of the studies cited requiring anywhere from eight to 90 sessions given on a daily basis before the participants improved.
Special Considerations in Reflexology for the Elderly
Many practitioners consider sessions shorter in duration for a senior client. The reasoning is usually two-fold:
- Health – often an older client has a number of health conditions and the reflexologist would not wish to give too strong of a session so as to cause discomfort.
- Finances – clients on a fixed income may prefer a cheaper, and therefore shorter, session and come in more frequently than the higher priced, longer session.
The author routinely works with clients from retirement age through their 80s, recognizing that everyone is different and will respond uniquely to a session. Perhaps the most important consideration for this population is that the practitioner may be the only person that touches this client in days, weeks, even months.
Reflexology practitioners would be wise to approach sessions with a nurturing touch, understanding that not every health condition will respond to the sessions. Likewise the client should consider that Reflexology is not a cure-all and should consult with her primary care doctor on all health related questions.
References:
- The author's personal experience working with senior citizens since 2004 as a Reflexologist.
- Reflexology for Dementia, Bill Flocco's website on Reflexology Research Studies, accessed online January 2010.
Seniors Benefit From Therapeutic Reflexology
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