Human Touch Helps Elderly Seniors with Isolation Trauma

HUMAN TOUCH, ELDERLY, SENIORS, ISOLATION

When we touch - We form a Bond

Elderly seniors need the health benefits of human touch to prevent the ill effects of isolation. Use your healing touch and make someone feel great.

To be touched by someone you care for is a sign of acceptance and helps to make us feel better. Touching can have a healing effect known as “soothing to the touch” which releases the calming peptide hormone called Oxytocin, secreted by the pituitary gland within the brain.

The release of Oxytocin through repeated touching can condition friends and family to want to be with each other even more. It helps us to create bonds with those we care for. Intimate loving couples just need to look at one another for the pituitary gland to automatically stimulate the release of Oxytocin to give them that fuzzy warm feeling.

The presence of the hormone estrogen is the key factor in the release of Oxytocin and the reason why females like to cuddle more so than males. Higher levels of estrogen increase empathetic nurturing qualities in women.

Touch deprivation and consuming high levels of alcohol will decrease Oxytocin supplies in the brain. This is why it is so important to cuddle with babies, to increase Oxytocin levels to form a nurturing bond with family members.

Pet therapy in nursing homes has a calming effect on the residents especially when touching and petting animals. Touch alone increases the release of Oxytocin stimulating overall health.

Family members can use various methods of touch therapy to increase the quality of life for elderly family members. It helps to center and calm elderly persons, especially if they feel isolated and away from family members. Touch will also validate the need to be wanted and cared for.

Gentle touch – placing your hands on the shoulders, back, arms, hands.
Hugs – gentle hugs so not to hurt fragile bones.
Massages – gently knead and rub the hands, arms, feet, back and neck.
Hair brushing – slowly brushing the hair is calming.
Manny/Peddy – help with manicure and pedicures.
Facials – do beauty treatments together and laugh.
Scalp massage - gently massaging the scalp is very relaxing.
Pet visits – a great way for the elderly to touch and interact.
Holding hands – while sitting or walking.

Always slow down the pace with elderly loved ones and take the time to touch, even when walking by, while getting up or sitting back down with them.

Oxytocin calms and relaxes and increases health by relieving pain, stimulating the immune system, decreases anxiety and promotes relaxation. Touch also reduces behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.

Some people may not like to be touched, requiring some discretion and monitoring their response. Go slowly, so to gain trust and to respect loved ones boundaries will help to stimulate Oxytocin release and eventually create a bond with each other.

SUMMARY:

HUMAN TOUCH – Needed to release Oxytocin in the brain to bond with others.

ELDERLY – need to be touched just like everyone else.

SENIORS – Seek affectionate relationships for the health benefits of Oxytocin.

ISOLATION – Anyone can be in a room full of people and still feel lonely. It only takes one person in that room to give a hug for the loneliness to go away.

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