Human beings need the connection of touch for wellbeing. Expressive Touch is possible and necessary, even during a pandemic.
The pandemic has made us all wary of getting too close to others, and rightly so. Shivers might run down your spine thinking about touching someone not related to you.
Touch, meaning holding a hand, offering a hug or a warming shoulder rub. Can we? Should we? Touch, is a touchy subject these days, after all.
People express their fatigue with pandemic-style living. How many times have you heard, "I'm so over it"?
Imagine how over it elders who live in elder care communities must feel? Separated from family and friends for a year with a profound absence of expressive touch in their lives.
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Topics:
Senior Care Professionals,
aging services,
Elders,
compassionate touch,
caregiving,
expressive touch
Presbyterian Senior Living offers love, connection and comfort to their elders by creatively keeping Compassionate Touch moving forward during the pandemic.
AGE-u-cate honors the wonderful work at Presbyterian Senior Living (PSL), based in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
Alicia Fenstermacher, PSL Corporate Director of Purposeful Living and AGE-u-cate Certified Master Trainer shared how PSL keeps resident and employee well-being front and center during the pandemic with Compassionate Touch.
Since 2015, Compassionate Touch is integrated into the culture of care and service at PSL. They have over 230 certified Compassionate Touch Coaches, and 989 trained caregivers.
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Topics:
AGE-u-cate Training Institute,
Senior Care Professionals,
aging services,
Elders,
compassionate touch,
Senior Living,
AGE-u-cate®,
AGE-u-cate Training,
touch
Elders experience active engagement and initiation, a renewed interest in the world and desire to learn. Their past areas of expertise and passions are rekindled.
Innovative programming for persons living with Dementia is taking a significant step forward.
Reading2Connect is an integrated reading program for persons with cognitive changes. Adapted books help them to express their individuality, recall their pasts, share humor, and emotionally connect with peers, family, and caregivers.
The ability to read is automatic and often remains to some degree functional even in the later stages of dementia.
Specially designed books break through the barriers to reading, sparking older adults with dementia abilities to reflect, remember, learn, and express themselves.
Revive the minds, voices, and self-esteem of the older adults in your care
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid commissioned a study with residents in 40 nursing homes about the meaning of quality
of life. Independence, positive self-image and purposeful activities that produce or teach something ranked high on the list.
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Topics:
Senior Care Professionals,
aging services,
Elders,
dementia,
aging,
older adults
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act grants totally $955 million will support older adults and people with disabilities in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizations that will have access to this funding includes a network of community-based organization such as Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, senior centers, faith-based organizations and other community-based non-profit organizations that provide resources and services to help older adults and people living with disabilities stay healthy and live independently. $100 million is earmarked for the National Family Caregiver Support Program to help expand services that aid families and information for caregivers who are providing support for their loved ones at home.
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Topics:
Senior Care Professionals,
Family Caregiver,
Elders,
Care Partners,
Aging Service Provider,
CARES Act,
Social isolation,
older adults,
support,
Loneliness,
Area Agencies on Aging
We can restore human connection and relationships post-COVID by understanding the importance of re-awakening the senses through the simple act of touch.
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Topics:
The Family Caregiver,
Senior Care Professionals,
Family Caregiver,
Elders,
compassionate touch,
caregiving,
human connection,
Covid recovery
About a month ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidelines that advocate family visitors to return to nursing homes. At this time only three states are not allowing visits. The guidelines provide specifics on how to visit a family member while remaining safe. Unfortunately, it still means making tough choices between a resident's mental and physical health.
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Topics:
The Faith Community,
The Family Caregiver,
Senior Care Professionals,
Family Caregiver,
Elders,
Professional Caregiver,
caregiving,
Faith Community,
aging,
faith communities,
families
Foster dignity to improve quality of life.
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Topics:
Senior Care Professionals,
Elders
Frailty is used loosely to describe a range of conditions in older people, including general weakness, balance and cognitive impairment. It leads to inability to perform everyday self-care, home or community activities.
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Topics:
Senior Care Professionals,
Elders,
Community,
old age,
touch
It the first sense to develop in the womb and one of the last ones to go during the dying process.
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Topics:
dementia care,
Senior Care Professionals,
Family Caregiver,
Elders,
compassionate touch,
leadership,
Hospital Professionals,
aging,
Anxiety,
Healing Touch,
End-of-life,
older adults,
Healing,
Skilled Touch
