Massage and the Caregiver

By Karrie Osborn

One-third of the US adult population are considered caregivers—those who work on average between 14 and 35 hours a week caring for a loved one. Whether it’s sitting by someone’s hospice bed, holding theirhand, and just being present for them; or theseemingly more stressful tasks of taking your loved one to their doctor appointments, advocating for their health care, making

sure all the doctors on their case are talking and know what the other is doing, and ensuring all the right meds are being taken, caregiving in any situation is exhausting.

Caregivers, however, often don’t realize the stress they are under until they’ve hit a wall. Many say they simply don’t have time to even stop and realize it. Massage is one stress-relieving tool that you, or the caregivers in your life, could look to for respite.

EMOTIONAL EXHAUSTION

Caregivers are growing in numbers as aging baby boomers settle into retirement and the golden years. Their families, friends, and loved ones are often called to assist in this part of the aging process.

In a caregiving role, the emotional component alone is enough to exhaust anyone—what’s harder than living day to day with your heart wide open? Think about it: What kind of emotional energy does it take to remain that present, that open, that ready for the loved one lying in the bed before you?