There are different forms of massage providing you with different physical and mental health benefits. Some forms of massage are very helpful for patients with dementia. These massage therapies can help in relieving stress. As the number of aged people is increasing, there are salons offering specialized massage in Newport for dementia patients.
Impact Of Dementia
People with age more than 64 years are most likely to suffer from this condition. According to the World Health Organization, around 50 million people are living with this condition all across the world. By the year 2030, there will be 82 million dementia patients and by 2050, there will be 52 million. The majority of dementia cases are reported in low- and middle-income countries. In 2018, there were 5.7 million Americans with dementia. By 2050, there will be 13.8 million with dementia.
A patient with dementia can experience problems such as memory problems, reduced concentration, increasing confusion, behaviour or personality changes, depression, loss of ability to perform tasks etc.
Following are the different types of this condition:
- Vascular dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkonson’s disease
- Fronto Temporal Lobar degeneration
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Huntington’s disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Korsakoff’s SYndrome
For most types of this condition, no effective cure is available. However, massage can be very beneficial. This can ease some strain.
How Massage Can Help A Person With Dementia?
There are several beneficial effects of massage therapy on patients with dementia. When the medical industry is trying to reduce the dependency on anti-psychotic medication for dementia treatment, massage therapy is an effective and reliable alternative solution. Massage therapy prioritizes human interaction. This is the reason why it is a key solution in this context. Strong relationship-building is the best for a patient receiving dementia care and this has been proven in many studies. The human touch is missing in ill elderly people. It is a major problem. Negative feelings such as feeling of isolation, loneliness and anxiety and lack of trust stem from lack of human touch. A relaxing session of massage therapy can provide relief from these negative emotions and also improve the flow of blood.
Massage Therapies For People Receiving Dementia Care
Hand Massage
A 5 minute long session of this massage therapy can be very effective. It has been found that hand massage can reduce the levels of cortisol. Hand massage can also produce a relaxation response. Rubbing the knuckles and pressing the palm gently in a therapeutic motion can reduce the agitated behaviour of dementia patients during morning care routines.
Slow-stroke Back Massage
Slow-stroke back massage method makes use of effleurage. In this method, the massage therapist moves the palm of his hand in long, rhythmic and firm strokes. These rhythms often follow patterns. For example, the therapist can move his hands to form a figure of eight on both sides of the back. Slow-stroke back massage releases endorphins and induce sleep. It can also decrease blood pressure. Slow-stroke back massage can also improve the mood of the patient.
Foot Massage
A 10 minute long session of this massage can reduce wandering, verbal aggression, repetitive movements and other symptoms of agitated behaviour. Daily foot massage can reduce these behaviours after 15 days.
These massage therapies are equally effective in both men and women with dementia. You can visit a Newport Coast salon having certified therapists for massage in Newport.
