Katie Brewer
+1 (920) 288 2317
GoldenAge920@gmail.com

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Massage offers many benefits, including…

• Stress Relief

• Improved Cardiovascular Health

• Chronic Pain Relief 

• Improved Sleep

• Boosting the Immune System

• Tempering the Effects of Dementia

• Improved Quality of Life in Senior Living Centers

Anxiety may be the most common mental condition among the elderly. Research has shown that moderate-pressure massage combined with aromatherapy is an effective tool to reduce anxiety and improve quality of life. Independent studies have shown that even a 10-minute chair massage is enough to decrease heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels while increasing parasympathetic nervous system activity, which acts to automatically calm the body and brain.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. Along with aromatherapy, massage is an effective intervention in controlling high blood pressure, a leading cause of cardiovascular issues such as stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. For those recovering from cardiac surgery, aromatherapy massage can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, and muscular tension as well as enhance relaxation.

Chronic pain is common among people over 40. Previous injuries or surgeries have stiffened muscles, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases contribute to pain. Studies in aromatherapy massage have shown that it can result in a decline in the perception of pain as well as an increase in comfort levels and physical function. After surgery, massage with aromatherapy has shown decreased pain intensity and lower anxiety levels. Arthritis sufferers have experienced less pain and greater grip strength after a massage with essential oils.

From middle-age onward, it is common to suffer from insomnia, either from an inability to relax into sleep or due to wakefulness during the night. Aromatherapy massage is a way to decrease anxiety levels and promote sleep without medication by stimulating the release of hormones that are conducive to sleep. Massage with essential oils can trigger the relaxation response, the release of chemicals and brain signals that make your muscles and organs slow down and increase blood flow to the brain.

Research has shown that massage therapy has an immune-boosting response, an effect seen after a single massage. Massage increases lymphocytes—cells that help the immune system defend the body from disease. It also protects immune cells by reducing cortisol, a hormone that can kill lymphocytes at high levels.

Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms including impaired thinking and memory, and is often associated with the cognitive decline of aging. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dementia is a brain disorder that affects communication and performance of daily activities, not to be confused with Alzheimer’s disease which is a form of dementia that specifically affects parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. A major difference between Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease is that Alzheimer’s is not reversible. It is degenerative and incurable at this time. Numerous studies have shown aromatherapy massage to be beneficial for clients with dementia in its varying degrees. Use of essential oils with massage has resulted in a positive strengthening of the relationship between the person with dementia and their family caregiver and have resulted in less agitation, wandering, and withdrawal. Caregivers also saw an increase in alertness, contentment, and sleeping at night.

In addition to the benefits listed above, massage with aromatherapy provides seniors with relief from a multitude of health issues as well as improved balance and postural control, decreasing the likelihood of a fall. Caregivers have also seen a decrease in pacing and wandering after aromatherapy massage, which also provides emotional support for lonely and isolated residents.