The right touch: Seniors seek healing hands of massage therapists - Dallas News (blog)

[massage]

Growing up, Powers says, he knew little about massage. As he got older, he got involved in bicycle racing and received massage therapy at the end of the race. "I tried it and liked it."

Powers participates in Cloft's light touch program, in which the amount of pressure used is a function of client health and preference.

"It makes my legs limber, and that's why I can stay mobile. I used to be a cyclist and played baseball until I was 65. The massage makes the entire body feel good." He considers massage an investment in his well-being and appearance. "Since 1954, I always had my hair styled a certain way and my fingers manicured. As a CPA, my hands, face and voice were my tools.

'Part of my life'


Anita Hullum, another resident at C. C. Young, turned 93 in January. "I'm in pretty good shape for my age," she says. "I grew up on a ranch during the Depression. All I knew about massages was from the movies. It was only for wealthy people. I didn't know anybody in my life who ever had a massage.

"Only in my later years have I gotten them, and they are just fantastic. I had whiplash a while back and when I tried massage, it really helped. And I realized it was just not just for fun. Now it's a part of my life. It keeps me moving," says Hullum, who uses no walker or cane. She also loves Cloft. "She oils my joints and she's a happy soul. That translates to her clients."

As human beings, "we need to be touched," says Cloft. "No matter what, you are not getting the sustained touch in your later years, that feeling of getting a hug or sleeping or sitting next to someone. Touch and movement are incredibly important. I don't think our society thinks of touch enough."

Stress reliever


Massage enthusiasts also report improvements in attitude with regular treatments. Marsha Conley, a client of Thalia Jackson Abdelrahim at Legacy Salons & Day Spa in Mansfield, says she was a stranger to massage until 10 years ago when her sister-in-law gave her a gift certificate. "We went together and [during the session], I could hear her snoring in the next room."

She says she now goes monthly. As the primary caregiver for her husband, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, she says it helps her relax. "I get an almost immediate sense of strength and purpose," she says. "I feel rejuvenated when I get back in the car. It helps me physically and improves my attitude."

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