Reflexology In Care Settings

A guide to help you understand the benefits of offering Reflexology to patients in your care establishment.

Reflexology brings about a range of measurable beneficial health outcomes, making patients feel better and improving their quality of life

Reflexology is a complimentary therapy that can be easily incorporated into existing care plans, to enhance the scope of care available to patients

Reflexology is safe (as long as the precautions for treatment are observed) is non-invasive and has no seriously adverse side-effects

Reflexologists treat patients in full knowledge of their medical histories and medication regime, to ensure that the treatment given is individualised, appropriate and effective. They ensure they build a holistic understanding of patients, including information about their mental and emotional health, and feedback their findings and concerns to relevant professionals

AOR Reflexologists are professional, fully trained and insured to practice. They hold Level 5 Diplomas in Reflexology, which is the highest qualification possible

We must recognise the unique challenges and stress that patients face in care settings, particularly in long-term care

At present, 14.8% of people aged over 85 years of age live in care homes. It is estimated that 4 in 10 of these are suffering with depression. Statistics show that patients with four or more significant health problems, will also suffer with mental health issues. Care homes in the UK often experience financial and staffing pressures which make it difficult for them to offer the support they would like. Further to this, shortages in the availability of suitable geriatricians and psychiatrists is commonplace, meaning that many older people are going without the specialist care they need.

 Transitioning and adapting from a home environment to a care environment presents significant challenges for people – relinquishing independence, accepting that others will make key decisions, and a complete change of routine. Living in care involves a degree of isolation from friends and family that perhaps wasn’t there before and many residents never even have a single visitor. Even what a patient eats and how they spend their time is often decided by someone else. On top of this, people have to adapt to the worsening state of health that put them in this new environment to begin with. Palliative care patients have the highest levels of stress, depression and anxiety.

Long term care, although absolutely necessary in providing an environment in which patients can be safe and well, also unintentionally and unavoidably creates stress, anxiety and even depression. This stress can then worsen existing health problems or create new ones. This creates a ‘cycle of stress’ and ill health.

How can Reflexology help to break the stress cycle?

Regular Reflexology treatments have been shown to significantly reduce patients’ subjective experiences of stress, lower cortisol levels, lower anxiety and reduce depression in care settings. It has also been successfully used to reduce anger and stress in dementia patients.

Reflexology provides healing, ‘nurturing touch’

Patients in care are touched all the time – to move them, bathe them, help them out of a chair or across the room. But they are not nurtured by touch.

Reflexology provides the kind of touch that soothes and comforts, that reassures and provides the kind of physical interaction that patients are generally going without. The one thing we all need in times of upset, is some form of physical reassurance, like a hug or someone rubbing our hand. We are hardwired to respond positively to touch, and Reflexology affords people a solid hour of this vital nurture.

The treatment also offers aroma-therapeutic benefits

I offer patients the comforting aroma of a range of essential oils to accompany their treatment. This helps to de-medicalise the room and add a touch of luxury.

What can I offer patients?

As a broad recommendation, Reflexology can be of benefit to the following –

How do patients receive the treatment?

Reflexology can usually be administered two different ways in a care setting – 

The patient is lying down in their usual bed – great for those with limited mobility

The patient is in a reclining Reflexology chair, supplied by the therapist

My fees

My fees include my travel expenses, all paperwork and meetings with caregivers and relatives, and any telephone consultations that may be needed. I charge a flat rate of £40 / patient.

Fixed fee means that however many patients I treat in your setting, I will charge the same amount per patient. I do not charge extra for travelling between settings if you require me to work across different locations.

For a full information pack or to discuss Reflexology in care settings further, please contact me.