Comfort Touch » (New Edition)

Comfort Touch: Massage for the Elderly and the Ill is a textbook designed to inform the caregiver who is interested in bringing the benefits of touch to a broad range of people in need. It will give the reader the confidence to practice massage in a variety of settings, including hospices, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home care. The practitioner can learn techniques that are safe and appropriate for the population for whom conventional massage may cause discomfort or even injury. It gives the reader an understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly and those suffering from chronic illness and/or injury. The book is ideal for massage practitioners and students as well as nursing and allied health professionals.

For more information, please visit www.comforttouch.com

Ch. 1 Introduction to Comfort Touch 1

Ch. 2 Understanding Health, Illness, Loss, and Grief 11

Ch. 3 Approaching the Client 23

Ch. 4 The Principles of Comfort Touch: SCRIBE 39

Ch. 5 Techniques of Comfort Touch 55

Ch. 6 Special Considerations in the Use of Comfort Touch 75

Ch. 7 Communication and Documentation in the Healthcare System 97

Ch. 8 Self-Care for the Caregiver 107

Ch. 9 Developing a Comfort Touch Program: Administrative Guidelines 119

Appendix A Infection Control: Standard and Universal Precautions 129

Appendix B Integrating Aroma: Cautions and Considerations 131

Appendix C Recommended Resources: An Annotated List 135

Glossary 139

Index 145