When It’s More Than Just Massage

Alice is one of the kindest patients I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.  I’ve been providing massage for her since September 2025, in an assisted living facility. She’s always happy to see me, always grateful for the massage, always funny as she recalls stories of her past.

Alice was recently transferred to a memory care facility. I entered the new facility, signed in, and headed down the hall to her room. I knocked on the door, announced myself and entered – no Alice.

I walked back to the front desk thinking I might have overlooked her – still no Alice. I told the aides at the desk that she was not in her room. They immediately dropped everything and began looking for her. Opening each patient-room, calling her name.  After going down one hall, panic rising, we turned the corner to see Alice in her pajamas with a beautiful scarf around her neck and her purse on her shoulder.

“Alice,” the aide said, “please stay where you are.” The aide hurriedly reached her and turned to ask me, “Does she have a walker?”  “Yes,” I replied. Alice was very happy to see my familiar face. As we slowly turned her around, she told us she’d left her walker outside. We located her walker at the entrance to the garden, and the aides left Alice in my care.

We made the long, slow trek back to her room, as Alice explained the need to move her car. She was confused. I assured her that the car was fine and that we needed to get back to her room.  She complied.

Once inside the room, I got her settled in her recliner, placing her purse on the bed where she could see it. I handed her the meal tray we found waiting in the room.  As she settled in, I provided massage to her feet and legs as she ate her breakfast.

The point of this story is that massage therapists who work with people at the end of life are often called upon to go above and beyond our massage skills. Compassion, patience, flexibility and sincere care for the patient’s wellbeing are necessary. This visit was More Than Just Massage, and I loved every minute of it!