For those of us with the back pain or stiff joints that can accompany aging, getting a massage can feel like a minor miracle. And while massage can relieve aches and pains, experts advise that there are many more benefits from massage for older adults: increased circulation and blood flow (that can help enhance your balance), ease of stroke recovery, increased joint flexibility and even better sleep. And while not all of us may embrace the benefits of a good massage, baby boomers have been the generation to come of age when alternative therapies and wellness goals have been integrated into traditional medical practices, so we’re used to “non-traditional” methods of care.

While many older adults can enjoy traditional massage approaches, massage techniques can be delivered in modified ways to accommodate the aging body. So, for example, given the mobility issues or thinning skin that can naturally occur as we get older, some massage techniques may have to be modified for older clients, including the use of a massage chair rather than a table or more gentle touching. For additional description of “geriatric massage”, put on your robe and click here. And for a more general overview of how the massage industry is enticing older adults, take a look here.

Unfortunately, traditional Medicare will not cover the costs of most massage sessions, though increasingly Medicare Advantage plans may begin to cover the costs. It’s unfortunate that massage is not usually a covered intervention, as the therapeutic touch of a good massage not only can help physical conditions but can also help address the primitive and essential need for touch that all human beings possess. Particularly for older adults who become isolated or lose intimacy with loved ones, lack of touch can lead to physical illness or depression. Time Goes By Blogger Ronnie Bennet calls this lack of human touch “skin hunger.” For more insights on the value of human touch for older adults, read her blog post here.