The Medically Frail Client

Comment

Comment by Anita Bakke on July 8, 2010 at 1:56pm

Hi everyone! Hope your summer is filled with joy and fun and you are keeping your hearts and hands busy caring for the medically frail souls you are presented. Question - What do you do for yourself to keep your balance and open heart? Sometimes when doing this work we can become overwhelmed with some of the cases we are handling. What do you do to keep balance and your heart open to what you are presented with? Let's talk about it.

Comment by Anita Bakke on July 8, 2010 at 1:50pm

Thanks Noreen! They are a great and appreciative group.

Comment by noreen zakrajsek on July 8, 2010 at 12:48pm

HI
I agree with Anita
I start working with the elderly in 07 by volunteering 1 day a month at a retirement home. about 11/2years later I started to develope a few clients & receiving payment for my services. I love this age group of people. recently I have joined Hospice in volunteering massage as well.

Comment by Lisa Curran Parenteau on June 16, 2010 at 2:32pm

Join us Monday 6/28 at 8pmEST for another complimentary Inspire U webinar-this one featuring Grace Terry, MSW. Grace will present on Effective Grief Support in a Death Denying Culture and how we can uplift with our awareness. Presented by the Center for Compassionate Touch, LLC

Comment by Lisa Curran Parenteau on March 26, 2010 at 2:17pm

Check out Ann Catlin's, the Owner/Director of the Center for Compassionate Touch's new post on the impact of healthcare legislation on the Massage Mag blog

Comment by Anita Bakke on February 2, 2010 at 12:45pm

If you are interested in Oncology Massage, don't miss The 2nd Oncology Massage Healing Summit, April 30 - May 2, 2010 Presented by Northwestern Health Sciences University, Bloomington, MN, co-sponsored by the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM). Check out www.S4OM.org for more information and registration form.

Comment by Ruth M. Schopper-Hughes on October 8, 2009 at 7:18am

Thank you for your advice. I will let you know what happens.

Comment by Anita Bakke on October 7, 2009 at 3:50pm

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for joining our discussions. You present a great question.

A single word answer to your question is VOLUNTEER!

A good way to find your way into any unknown area of work is to volunteer. Consider contacting and offering your services for a hospice, a care facility or hospital in your area, somewhere you might like to work. Start by volunteering a little (~4 hrs/wk) and you will soon know the framework, management style and staff of a company. This information will give you insight for future employment possibilities.

Keep in mind if a company likes what you provide, they will first attempt to get more free hours out of you. You will need to be able to guide them into paying for your services. There are many ways to verify the need for you but we can discuss those later. It is good however, to understand that this will come down the road.

In most states there are additional requirements to work in a facility where there are patients, such as getting a skin test (TB) or specific shots. If you are a volunteer the facility will often provide these tests and any shots you need for free.

I look forward to hearing of your progress.

Comment by Ruth M. Schopper-Hughes on October 7, 2009 at 11:47am

I am interested in working with Alzheimer's patients. I am getting older myself, and I am more sensitive to the elderly now. Also, I live in Pinellas County, FL and there are many facilities close by. I have worked for over 15 yrs. for someone else, and this will be my first venture to becoming an independant therapist. Now, I find myself entering the unknown...How in the world do I get started? Any suggestions?

Comment by Anita Bakke on August 31, 2009 at 5:44pm

I am a licensed massage therapist with specialities in Oncology massage, Lymphedema therapy and Reiki. I treat medically frail patients in various forms and stages of cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s, MS, and elder issues like arthritis, osteoporosis, etc. I also work with hospice patients and their caregivers. Please join the group and share your insights.