From the Heart Through the Hands: The Power of Touch in Caregiving

Enhancing quality of life for the elderly and the ill through different types of touch. This revised and updated edition presents a combination of practical advice, true stories, and invaluable information for those who want to increase their ability to communicate more consciously and effectively through touch. The physical and psychosocial benefits of skilled touch for the confined, elderly, and ill are elucidated, providing the reader with a greater understanding of how to use touch as a tool to communicate with individuals living with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. Massage-therapy students, doctors, nurses, nursing home and extended care facility workers, chaplains, social workers, grief counselors, and all volunteer and family caregivers will benefit from this physical, emotional, and spiritual guide to hands-on comfort and healing. Dawn Nelson is the founder of COMPASSIONATE TOUCH, for those in later life stages, and the author of Compassionate Touch, Making Friends with Cancer, and Therapeutic Massage in Facility Care. Co-producer of several award-winning videos, she also leads meditation retreats and couples communications counseling. She lives in Walnut Creek, California. Preface Introduction The Power of Presence The Compassionate Touch A Word to Non-Professional and Professional Touch Practitioners The Efficacy of Touch Karmic Touch The Power of Touch in Facility Care The Power of Touch in Alzheimer's/Dementia CareTouch and HIV/AIDS The Power of Touch in Caring for Our Dying Qualities Worth Cultivating Touch Techniques Accessing Bodies in Wheelchairs and Beds Touch Session Aids and Tools Complementary Relaxation Techniques Communication Skills Guidelines and Suggestions for Touch Sessions Caring for the Caregiver Appendix I: Questions and Answers Regarding Touch Sessions Appendix II: Dyad Communication Technique Appendix III: Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease Annoted Bibliography (Books for Adults, Books for Children) References Acknowledgments Index