One of the most poignant things about working with people who are sick or dying is bearing witness to the great tenderness that can exist between those people and their caregivers. Caregivers come in all shapes, sizes and flavors: male, female, quiet, noisy, trained by choice, trained by default, related by blood, related by marriage, related by chemistry, paid, unpaid (mostly unpaid), young, old, saintly, surly, protective, soft spoken, outspoken, tired. Very tired. It may be messy, but there are moments that take our breath away. The son who stays awake all night to push the button on his father’s pain pump. The mother who climbs into a hospital bed to hold her adult daughter. Husbands and wives who have been married for longer than we’ve been alive.
We learn a lot from the caregivers we meet. Many have become experts in the care of their loved ones. But they also look to us at times. With questions about the dying process. With questions about the lotion we use. Some have asked to be shown how to massage their loved one. Some are already providing massage and they want to know if this is okay. Yes, it’s okay! And we’re happy to share a few tips that may help. That’s why Final Touch Training is branching out to include support and information for nonprofessional caregivers. Because we keep getting asked to.
If you are a caregiver, we want you to know that you are valued and appreciated. If you’re looking for information about providing soothing touch for someone who could benefit, stay tuned to this website. We will be developing articles and videos and lists of resources that may be useful to you. And if you ever want hands-on massage training (that’s what we most love to do!), please contact us and let us know how we can help.
