At first glance, spa services seem like a decadent luxury, but a growing number of medical professionals recognize the benefits that spa services provide, especially when it comes to senior healthcare. The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, says that, “there is scientific evidence that massage may help with back pain and may improve quality of life for people with depression, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.”
Whether you have chronic conditions or are in perfect health, spa services can help you improve your senior healthcare in a variety of ways.
Spa Services Can Complement Senior Healthcare
A retirement senior can benefit just as much from having a spa day as a frazzled, working adult– if not more. Spa services act as a complement to senior healthcare by addressing a variety of conditions that affect older people including skin problems, joint conditions, and stiff muscles.
The focus of spa services is to provide basic maintenance that relieves pain, reduces stress, stimulates circulation and promotes relaxation. Spa services provide a unique, gentle alternative to seniors who cannot tolerate the rigors of other therapies, such as chiropractic adjustments or deep tissue massage.
Almost all seniors can engage in some type of spa service, although not all spa treatments may be right for you. Spa treatment technicians, especially massage therapists, must take special care to avoid aggravating existing conditions. You should always discuss spa treatments with your primary healthcare provider to determine if a particular therapy is right for you.
Spa Services Provide Massage for Your Bones, Muscles and Circulation
Aside from feeling great, massage provides a variety of therapeutic effects.
Massage releases endorphins that elevate your mood to reduce symptoms of depression. A therapeutic massage stimulates circulation to increase the flow of oxygen-rich blood around your body. It also melts stiff joints and improves flexibility in patients with arthritis.
If you’re looking into booking an appointment, try asking for a Swedish massage as this technique is gentle on fragile skin.
Skin Care
Healthy skin is essential to senior healthcare. Good skin care means more than merely reducing wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots, and spa services provide skin care treatments that actually complement senior healthcare efforts.
Older skin can be thin, dry and frail which means that it is prone to tears, sores, inflammation and infection. If you are like other older people, your skin tends to heal slowly. Dry skin can cause flaking and cracks that can become infected.
Spa service professionals can look for suspicious growths, rashes, sores and other skin problems on their clients. When a spa service professional sees something worrisome, she will urge you to see your primary healthcare provider.
Wrinkles and age spots may also appear which can, while not a health risk, have a profoundly negative effect on your wellbeing. Many spa services for seniors offer facials that address skin problems like these. Gentle facial treatments add moisture to reduce dry skin. Skin therapy also lessens the appearance of wrinkles and age spots.
Spa Services, Senior Healthcare and Social Health
Many seniors who live at home tend to live isolated lives, with few opportunities for human like contact handshakes, hugs, conversations. Caring professionals who perform spa services, such as massage and skin treatments, are sometimes the only form of human contact a senior citizen might have on a regular basis. Spa services help seniors stay connected to others on a deep, emotional basis.
Medical experts agree that spa services can greatly improve the outcome of traditional senior healthcare. Spa services may be the key to helping you feel better as you age. Consult with your doctor or local spa services to find out if spa treatments can improve your senior healthcare today.
