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Los Angeles Jewish Home's Blog
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Unconventional Practices for Practical Purposes
It's always interesting to see how Eastern medicinal techniques make their way into Western practices. Today's posts in The New Old Age, an award winning blog sponsored by The New York Times, talks about the use of reiki in special care centers to help people with dementia.
Reiki is the ancient Japanese practice of channeling universal energy to heal or, at the very least, soothe a person in need. And in addition to senior care facilities, some hospitals are experimenting with the practice.
In a recent Jewish Home Feature Article, Dr. Edward Schneider explained that Eastern and Western medicine can complement one another. What would be interesting to know definitively, though, is whether reiki can physically heal, or whether the presence of a calm caregiver or peaceful music simply puts dementia patients at ease.
What do you think?
Home Care Partners, a nonprofit home care agency in Washington, won a two-year grant from the federal Administration on Aging to give it a try and has just finished training 36 aides in reiki. Next year, the agency will offer reiki training to family caregivers and to workers at adult day programs.
“It relieves stress, it reduces anxiety and it can help diminish pain,” said Marie Muller, the agency’s education manager and a trained reiki master. “We hope that our clients with dementia who become agitated and stressed will find reiki calming” — and thus will be less disturbed when aides help them bathe or dress or eat.
“It relieves stress, it reduces anxiety and it can help diminish pain,” said Marie Muller, the agency’s education manager and a trained reiki master. “We hope that our clients with dementia who become agitated and stressed will find reiki calming” — and thus will be less disturbed when aides help them bathe or dress or eat.
Reiki is the ancient Japanese practice of channeling universal energy to heal or, at the very least, soothe a person in need. And in addition to senior care facilities, some hospitals are experimenting with the practice.
At Portsmouth General Hospital in New Hampshire, for instance, two staff practitioners and a half dozen volunteers offer free reiki to all patients, family members and staff, last year providing more than 2,100 sessions.
“People say they just feel comforted,” said Christina Niles, the hospital’s reiki director, citing patient surveys. “I personally believe reiki is healing. Not everyone at the hospital agrees, but everyone thinks that people feel better afterward.”
“People say they just feel comforted,” said Christina Niles, the hospital’s reiki director, citing patient surveys. “I personally believe reiki is healing. Not everyone at the hospital agrees, but everyone thinks that people feel better afterward.”
In a recent Jewish Home Feature Article, Dr. Edward Schneider explained that Eastern and Western medicine can complement one another. What would be interesting to know definitively, though, is whether reiki can physically heal, or whether the presence of a calm caregiver or peaceful music simply puts dementia patients at ease.What do you think?
Labels: Alternative Medicine, Caregiving, Dementia, Eastern Medicine, For the Body, Healing, Health, Japanese Medicine, New York Times, Reiki, Schneider, Staff, The New Old Age, Traditional Medicine, Wellness
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Expanded Resource Section!
Great news! We've expanded our online resource section!!!
The Jewish Home is proud to present an expanded list of websites and organizations that may be useful to seniors, those caring for seniors, or simply people interested in healthy aging. Our goal is to make the wealth of knowledge on issues related to health and aging easier to access.
If there is an online resource you would like to see included, we welcome suggestions.
The Jewish Home does not endorse any of these websites, but we hope some prove useful.
Labels: Alzheimer's, Cancer, Caregiving, Depression, Drug Abuse, Health, Healthy Aging, Mental Health, Nutrition, Resources, Senior Resources, Staff, Substance Abuse, Transportation, Website, Wellness
Monday, February 21, 2011
Shameless Plug: The Jewish Home's Monthly Top 10
Each month, we at the Jewish Home put our minds and research skills to the test to find the top ten most interesting, relevant factoids on health and wellness, and we send them out to you, our amazing readers.
This month's (February) Top 10 list covered heart health. The January Top 10 offered tips to stick to your New Year's resolution (how's that going?).
What is next month's Top 10 list going to cover? Subscribe today to find out!!!
Labels: email, Health, Internet, Longevity, Senior Living, Social Media, Staff, Subscribe, Top 10, Wellness