|
Thursday, 07 April 2011 16:23 |
|
A large part of my Reiki practice is with elders who are hospice patients and have dementia, confusion and anxiety. Reiki offers gentle, safe and non-invasive touch. The need for touch doesn't disappear with age of mental fraility. In the dying process touch and hearing are the last senses to go. I have often seen pwople come out of their mental fog to communicaate. one such experience was with a woman diagnosed with Parkinson's-related dementia and considered mute. She spoke these words during the treaatment time, "I've never felt anything like this before". another time I treated a hospital patient with dementia who was withdrawn and mute. As I readied to leave, she spoke and asked if I did house calls. Recently, I received a messaaage from a daughter of a dying end demented woman who was suffering from anxiety and agitation. She had broken her hip in a medical facility. Her subsequent ambulance ride and wait in the emergency room was very traumatic. as a consequence, the patient could not sleep or find calm for days. The daughter staated, "knowing my mother was receiving cal, comforting attention not only benefitted her, but gave me peace that I hadn't (felt) since her fall". Caregivers can benefit from seeing relief, relaxation and comfort for their loved ones.
Here is the link to see the original article: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/for-patients-with-dementia-an-ancient-comfort/?partner=rss&emc=rss#preview
|
