I am proposing a reform to include holistic health therapies in all long-term facilities.
Holistic health is a philosophy of medical care that views physical and mental aspects of life as closely interconnected and as equally important approaches to treatment. (holisticnetwork.org) It is not allopathic medicine that is used in hospitals and facilities. It consists of focusing on lifestyle, mental well-being and spiritual awareness through health and fitness. Instead of using medicine and regular hospital therapies to help the physical pain or disease of the person, the goal is for a wellness that involves the entire person.
How does holistic health help the patient? It is understood that when symptoms of sickness develop, it is mostly long after the cause of these symptoms actually occurred. The holistic approach focuses on the cause of the symptoms or sickness rather than treating the symptoms and/or syndromes. Some examples of holistic health therapies are chiropractic techniques, massage therapy, reflexology, energy balancing, acupressure, and acupuncture. These are just a few of many different techniques and therapies used in holistic health.
One technique that would be great for elderly or disable in long-term care would be message therapy. Because of the direct contact, massage therapy provides those with Alzheimer's disease a way to relax. In doing so, it reduces the anxiety linked with the disease. Massage also provides stimulation, which helps the residents communicate physically. Pain is very common in many senior’s lives not matter what condition they have, which is why massage therapy is very important. About 80 to 85% of people past the age of 65 will experience pain caused by a health problem. Of these elders, 25 to 50% will admit to having significant pain, and of those living in nursing homes, this percentage increases to 45 to 80%. (massagebysuzanne.com) Massage therapy can help reduce the pain of chronic disease and minor injuries, decrease muscle spasms and stiffness, and increases mobility. However, the only reason massage therapy is important is not only because of the pain. Decreased social contact at this point in their lives makes massage therapy an effective treatment approach for seniors. Basically, massage therapy can be used to help loneliness that the elderly encompass. Just the simple touch of another human being helps the feeling of being lonely decrease.
Another technique that would be useful would be meditation practices. Meditation is used as for pain control as well. It is a way of healing the body, and is used for relaxation and stress relief. It is a simple practice, a skill that can be tremendously beneficial to the body as well as the mind. A guide to meditation is a must when you want to conduct yourself towards enlightenment and inner peace. This is something that may be very important to elderly. Therefore, not only does meditation help their body physically, but it helps their spiritual and mental health as well.
Using these different therapies and techniques would develop a great improvement in residents of long-term facilities. It is a different approach then what is regularly used, and could also be a good way for residents to have fun and socialize. Even if facilities would have a therapy session once a week for the residents it could improve their mental, spiritual, and physical health.
http://www.holisticnetwork.org/about_the_discipline.cfm
http://www.healthynewage.com/
http://www2.kenyon.edu/khistory/holistic/definitions.htm
http://www.massagetherapy.com
http://www.massagebysusanne.com/massage-for-the-elderly.htm
http://www.project-meditation.org
Followers
This is a great reform idea. Most traditional medicine looks to treat the symptoms, rather than digging deep into all aspects of an individual's life to figure out the cause of the symptoms!! In today's medical model, i feel like doctors are more apt to "solve" a patients ailment with meds or surgery (costly in the long run!!!), instead of taking the time to figure out what's going on. Patients aren't just body's; rather they are a mind, soul and body. Therapies such as acupressure and acupuncture look at all of these aspects of a person. Long-term care would benefit greatly from Holistic care.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea and would help many seniors or others in long-term care. This would be a good alternative that would be a lot easier and less expensive than high technology and costly treatments or drugs. I'm not even sure why these techniques aren't already in wide use across the country! Our society is just too wrapped up in technology and new medicine!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the techniques such as massage therapy, meditation, acupuncture, and various others to aid in the mental and physical well being of patients/people in the long-term facilities. I personally know an elderly couple who experience massage therapy sessions in their long term facility and seem to thoroughly enjoy it. This type of therapy being offered to people of long-term settings can do wonders for their mental and physical health. Holistic health encompases a great alternative to the expensive drugs and other unnecessary treatments that are being used.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the idea of long-term care being more based on Holistic Health therapies, because mental health plays a huge role in the well-being of a person. This is something I definitely feel passionate about. Having a positive mental outlook impacts your physical well-being as well, and to me, it would help the treatment process along. Professionals believe patients who live in health care facilities end up becoming depressed because being stuck in a facility decreases there mental health, so obviously doing these therapies helps greatly! I agree with what you're saying. And I think it's extremely important to try and find alternative ways to just medical treatment to increase health, especially in long-term patients.
ReplyDeleteYes! Yes! Yes! Holistic health it the kind of health care that should be impletemtned on a larger scale. We are souls within bodies and if our soul has been hurt our bodies may be hurting as well. It is very important to look at all of the ingredients. After all, you would not bake whole wheat bread without whole wheat flour right? What if everyone could go to the doctor once a month and get a message for a half hour. Or what if you could be at your job and get a message before you leave every so often. Less road rage? Even a head rub. It's relaxing. Breathing exercises? Yes!
ReplyDeleteHolistic health in long term care facilities would be a great improvement to the services already provided. There are so many different holistic services that can improve quality of life and social interaction among patients in long term care facilities that I don't know why it hasn't been adopted into the system already!
ReplyDeleteI agree that a holistic approach would definitely benefit residents in long-term care facilities. I think it is important to look at the person as a whole and not just identify them with their "problem." Taking a holistic approach would definitely increase quality for residents. Rather than having multiple medications and not feeling well, perhaps this could provide more comfort and help them feel better throughout their later stages in life.
ReplyDeleteIt is unclear within your proposal of how this would actually be enacted and who exactly would be enacting it. Are you proposing for this to be covered under Medicare or how exactly would these techniques be paid for? I agree that there are definitely potential benefits, but I think in order for this to really be taken into consideration, there needs to be evidence of research-based studies to back-up the benefits you are saying are possible.