Working in retirement homes and assisted living facilities

[JustJules]

Hi, gang:

I am interested in hearing from those of you who have worked as independent contractors in retirement homes and assisted living facilities. I have my own home MT clinic, and find that some of my favorite clients are quite elderly. Am thinking of approaching some local facilities and offering massage perhaps at a slightly discounted "senior citizens" rate.

Anyone out there with experience in this specialty who would be willing to share experience, tips etc.? I have two wonderful books on the subject: "From the Heart Through the Hands: The Power of Touch in Caregiving" by Dawn Nelson, and "Massage for the Hospital Patient and Medically Fragile Client" by Gayle Mac Donald.

Any additional information appreciated! Thanks! Sherry

 

[ek 5]

I have two seniors' places that I go to, and do chair massage and some myofascial release and reflexology. I am a practitioner not a registered therapist (an Ontario, Canada disctinction! - less hours of education), so there are sometimes issues over whether they have extended health coverage.

One place is a private retirement home. I go weekly and do 15 minute massages on 4-8 people. Many Registered Massage Therapists are not willing to go for such a short time, but many of the seniors are happy with 15 minutes.

The other place is a seniors' condominium and I go once every two weeks, and do about the same. Some people book in every session, some are once a month and some are just occasional drop ins.

Most seniors can get on and off the chair, although I always hold them for balance when getting off the chair. I take the shin supports off for those that have trouble bending the knee. It is actually easier for them to get on and off the chair than on and off the table. If they need to be flat, I tend to see them in their room, on their bed.

I find around here that most seniors' places are locked up tight already!

I happened to know someone at each of these places and that helped me get in. I love "my" old people, and am often amazed at how regular bodywork can make them feel so much better, even given the short time we spemd together.

 

[Quinny]

how much do you generally charge when going to a nursing home or senior home?

 

[Neil A]

geriatric massage

Open Hands- go to http://www.daybreak-massage.com for workshops coming to your area. I have taken level 1 and have found it invaluable when working with the elderly. I have not worked in a facility as of yet. But I do volunteer work through a local Hospice.

 

[chris p]

geriatric massage

Open Hands- go to http://www.daybreak-massage.com for workshops coming to your area. I have taken level 1 and have found it invaluable when working with the elderly. I have not worked in a facility as of yet. But I do volunteer work through a local Hospice.

Thanks for the info on the website, Sugar! You said the Workshop was helpful -- have you purchased any of the books or DVDs on the site and found them useful?

Thanks!

Sherry

 

[Rogelio teh Scary Feesh]

I usually charge the dreaded $1.00 per minute! But I think that would depend a lot on what the going rates are where you live, and your qualifications.

 

[cyyutegurl]

The work I have done in the local elder care facilities has all been at the behest of family members who insist on paying the fees I would charge for an office visit. I charge the mileage to and from the facilities off against my taxes as business mileage and treat the sessions as ADA work because, obviously the folks with dementia, etc, aren't really in a position to be coming in to the office.

I keep track of when I go where, send a bill and a note about the client visits to the family members at the end of each month. It keeps the family members informed as to the condition of their loved one during my visits that includes more info than they often get from the staff, and I am always readily paid by the family.

 

[syla]

There are a couple of good threads in the Business Section regarding this. I'll try to find them for you and edit this post later.

 

[Wyett]

Hi Sherry,
I work at an assisted living center, but for children, not seniors. I think the situation I have there could possibly be a format for what could happen at an assisted living center for seniors.

I'm independant, not an employee. I got the job through contacts, basically by having clients that work there. They needed a massage therapist that was open to working in the evening and asked me if I would be interested. 18 months ago, my first evening there, I massaged 3 children. I've built my business up, and now I have 3 regular nights a month where I massage 4 children each night. All basically through word of mouth. I was very well received (and the responses by the children to the massages) by the staff- and they have really talked me up to the parents. I also had a little blurb about me and the "massage clinic" in the quarterly newsletter that goes home to parents/guardians of the children.

I charge my regular prices. I have set days every month that I come to the facility, but it is fairly flexible to change them by a week or two if it falls on my vacation or something. There is a woman who arranges the scheduling for me, and is my main contact. She is the administrator of all of the "clinics", from hair cutting to dentistry, to wheel chair repair. This is how it works:
1. Parent/guardian contacts the Resident Care Manager of their child to tell them they want their child to have a massage. one time, every month, every even month..........
2. Scheduling administrator sends an email out to RCM's that it is time to sign up for massages, appx. 2weeks in advance of when I'm coming.
3. RCM's email her back of what kids want/need massage that month.
4. Scheduler plugs names into schedule and emails me approximately 10 days before I come.
5. I massage children, type up chart notes and return them to the scheduler who passes them out to RCM's, and social worker, and are made available to parents/guardians.
6. I email invoice/list of children I have massaged for the month to the billing coordinator.
7. Every child has a fund that money is put into (by parents) for incidentals from paying for girl scout dues to ........massage.
8. I receive payment in one check from the hospital--and it is usually less than a 2 week wait.

Everything pretty much runs smoothly. Occasionaly a child is ill and I don't know until I arrive, but this happens rarely, and since I'm there to massage more than one client, it's not a wasted trip. Sometimes the client isn't ready for me and the team is surprised that I'm there. Basically someone blows it and hasn't looked at the bulletin board.....and the RCM, hasn't reminded the team on the floor. Anyway, they usually rally and get the child into bed quickly, and the most I'm ever waiting is 10 minutes.

I enjoy working there very much. I think that assissted living facilities are incredible potentials for business. Even though perception, and often, truth is that the residents have limited income, they often, also, have limited chances to spend that income. Also, friends and family are an incredible resource for paying for the massages. I know having had elderly aunts in assisted living that my parents were always at a loss as to what to buy them for Christmas/Birthday, etc. And massage would have been a useful and welcome gift.

Let me know if you have any questions,
Noel

 

[nike loverr]

I know a lot of seniors who massage has benifited. As a former nurse aid in a nursing home I feel it is a wonderful direction to pursue.

When I start and then finish school lol. I hope to work mainly in hospitals and nursing home. Sorry i'm not much help but thought I would mention it is a great idea.

 

[Squirtle]

This is a great topic and I, too am interested in this area.

I have looked into the Daybreak classes and will probably register soon. I have been approached by a couple of people with elderly parents and I would like to be firm in my knowledge before setting out on this. I plan to be ready to go early next year. After I take the class, I will post my reactions.

 

[Karamazov]

I know this isn't really on the lines of the topic, but this is one that is always close to my heart.
Having been a nurses aide for many years, and my favorite place to work was the nursing homes, I know how beneficial it is to them. I had a grandmother in one of these types of facilities. Most of these places have no extra benefits, such as the comfy chairs and nice couches. They have hard beds, straight back hospital chairs, and no other necessities that the aging body need. So massage should be something that the homes would be in agreement with, but most aren't because the facility isn't making money from you. So they discourage the administrators from allowing you inside, to even talk to the families. I speak from personal experience, having worked in 6 different facilities over the 15 years i was a nurses aide. I had to quit because I just got too attached and couldn't handle the way that many facilities just didn't care about those wonderful people. I ended up at the hospitals, because the turn around was faster. But believe me if you can get into the senior cititzen facility to do massages, it will be an unforgetable experience.

 

[mad92300]

Thanks, Jenny!

That is good information -- I, too, have found some resistance from nursing homes . . . and was wondering why. What a wonderful benefit to offer their clients!!!! And I can't think of anyone more in need of touch. It's sad if making a profit from it is the only issue.

You said you moved on to hospital work -- that also interests me so much! Can you give any more details on how you did that? Do you have any special certifications for doing the hospital work?

Thank you so much, everyone, for responding to my opening post!

What a neat group of people! t041

Sherry

 

[Pompal 09.]

Most of these places have no extra benefits, such as the comfy chairs and nice couches. They have hard beds, straight back hospital chairs, and no other necessities that the aging body need. So massage should be something that the homes would be in agreement with, but most aren't because the facility isn't making money from you. .

At my old job the head of the PT department was a big supporter of massage therapy, but the facility would lot allow it anyone to come in.

I was even told not to talk about it when I mentioned becoming a mt. If the nursing home does not make money off of it, it won't happen. Not all places are like this, but it seems like the giant nursing home companies are.

It's sad, to so many people get contracted to the point of no return, and heavily dependent on pain killers that may not be needed.

Sorry for the off topic rant.

If anyone does have information about working in hospitals I to would be interested.

Sherry, if there are some smaller private nursing homes in your area they may be a little more receptive to you coming in.

 

[Ladeedaa.]

Sherry,
I wished I worked in the hospitals as an MT, but I didn't, I worked in them as a nurses aide. Honestly, I didn't see many massage therapists there either. Mainly, because MD's don't think massage is that necessary. They are more likely to prescribe surgery or medication, than something as simple as a nice massage. Sorry, I wish I knew how to help about getting MT's into hospitals. I am sure you all could work wonders in a hospital. The only way I know how is through the families. And they have to have it approved through the doctor. :banghead: It is just like this litttle guy here. Dealing with many DR's is like banging your head against the wall.

 

[Chiliegirl]

I agree, I have found that it is the small, private homes that are receptive to allowing their residents to have massage and will actively promote an MT who is willing to go in to the home.

I have one assisted living home run by Lutheran Social Services that is also receptive. In fact, they pay me to go in twice a month, rather than just having the families contact me and arrange payment. They are absolutely wonderful to work with.

 

[Helpful]

This is so depressing. I, too, am looking to work with the elderly. Though I am grateful to find out the negatives right now, to see what I have to overcome to get what I want.

Another MT and I want to start a business where we work in nursing homes, giving the residents 15 min hand and foot massages. We'd bill the families. I thought nursing homes would like us there, even if they weren't getting paid for it, because it was good promo for their facility. And happy families make good referrals too. There are quite a few nursing homes in my area that are trying to be more modernized by offering numerous services like chair massage.

So are you saying a nursing home has the right not to even let me in the place....even if a family is paying me to be there?

I'm planning on talking to nursing homes before I even start this business venture as part of my research. Now I'm wondering if they'll even take a few minutes to see me

no matter what though, I'm not giving up. I really believe in what I'm wanting to do...and that is helping the elderly. I'll keep you all updated under this thread (since it's related to the topic).

 

[dbpap688]

I really like your idea of the specialized massage for the elderly...I think that is super. And...it sounds like you are going to make it work one way or another. You've given me another idea to try in my community! thanks1

 

[Pompal 09.]

Karminstant, I don't think a nursing home could/would say you are not allowed in if a family member or resident hires you. I don't even check in with the staff if someone hires me to go in directly, unless there is a specific reason for that. It is just that a lot of commercial homes don't want to set anything up with an MT themselves unless they can make money from it. I could understand paying a small perceneforum.xxxe as "rent" to the home, if they would give you a space to use, especially if you could store some equipment there, or if they would provide the linens....it is definitely worth the effort to talk to some and try to get in. Some would be interested only if you were their employee, working for a set wage per hour, with them setting and collecting the fees. Just decide ahead of time what type of practice you want to have, ideally, and what you are and are not willing to give up in negotiations.

I love working with the seniors in the different places I go. I work with several different levels of needs, and each is very rewarding. I did start out thinking this is a huge untapped market and I'd be busy quickly, and was rather surprised at the resistence of the management. It has taken more time and work to build than I expected, but I am "getting there", and it is worth it! Don't give up on your dream!

 

[Vincent]

Thanks you two for the positive feedback

Rose: Since we will only be doing hand and foot massages, we really don't need to store anything there. We won't need our tables. Just a stool for us to sit on and our massage oils. We can do this anywhere at their convienance (in their room, in their bed, another quiet place, in good weather...even outside!).
So really, we don't need the nursing home for any help whatsoever. We just need to work there lol

Oh, and also...I was wondering whether or not we need to let the nursing home know of our presence there. When I do my research, I'll find out what they prefer.


I'm hoping if we get our act together and present it well, people will be more receptive. Keep your fingers crossed