Elderly clients benefit most from shorter massage sessions given more routinely, says licensed massage therapist Dana Watson, owner of Relative Touch, LLC, which provides mobile massage services to senior citizens throughout southern New Jersey. Relative Touch offers free consultations to seniors or families interested in scheduling massages for a senior relative, and then customizes therapeutic sessions for elderly clients at home or in an assisted living facility. The company applies gentle massage techniques that can be performed easily for clients in a bed, wheelchair or recliner, either fully clothed or partially disrobed.  

Watson describes how massage benefits the brain. “It takes 15 to 20 minutes of therapeutic touch to shut down stress responders in the brain,” she says. “Feelgood neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are then released, helping boost the body’s natural immunity, decrease feelings of depression and anxiety and create a sense of overall well-being. Massage can be particularly beneficial to those with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.”

Other scientifically supported benefits of massage include the reduction of muscle tension, chronic pain and blood pressure and increases in circulation and mobility. Additional therapies, including aromatherapy and healing touch, can be incorporated into a session to enhance these positive effects.

For more information, call 609-828-9282 or email Dana@RelativeTouch.