Date:   7/7/2006 11:53:01 AM ( 18 y ago)
Hits:   2,083
URL:   https://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=370163

The Las Cruces Senior Messenger
(Jul/Aug)issue, published an excellent article written by Francesca Smith, LBSW, Long-Term Care Manager. In her article she describes our touch program and invites others to join us.
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Have You Experienced the Benefits of the 15-Minute StressOut Yet? by Francesca Smith, LBSW, Long-Term Care Manager & Certified Team Member

In the March issue of the Messenger there was an article about the Health Promotion Team, whose purpose was to establish a program at all centers where seniors could receive a 15 MINUTE STRESS OUT by a certified volunteer and experience skillful, safe and nourishing touch that facilitates relaxation, but more importantly, decreases the feelings of loneliness and isolation. We have accomplished that part of the project. You may have seen NMSU Professor Emeritus Gerald Vest with other volunteers and experienced the StressOut yourself.

On a wider scale, the Health Promotion Team is hoping to extend the program into the community to support the lonely and isolated elderly population and caregivers in Southern NM. The Team currently consists of Jerry Vest, who designed the program; RSVP Program Coordinator Aurora Ybarra, who sponsors and serves as an advisor of the program; In Home Services Manager Francesca Smith and Cher Guerrero, Recreation Specialist, who serve as advisors; and Judith Bartlett and Liz Ambrose, who serve as volunteer Co-Team Leaders.

Professor Vest's Stress Out Program has been published in professional journals and books. Research has shown that the touch program was successful in alleviating pain and suffering and reducing blood Sugar levels with diabetic patients. There was also a successful follow-up program with persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease living in nursing homes in southern New Mexico. Professor Vest's team discovered that patients who received the Stress Out on a regular basis were less likely to wander and their anxiety was remarkably decreased.

Jerry has been studying and practicing alternative healing for over 35 years. In this time he learned that the attitudes and behaviors of Health and Social Welfare professionals towards the use of touch was not in sync with their code of ethics and gidelines. His focus is to educate professionals and others on the importance of touch as a basic human need and essential to the human experience. Without it, people become hostile, angry, aggressive and depressed.

Jerry and other volunteers are giving the 15 Minute Stress Outs weekly at each center, on the following schedule:

Eastside: Thurs. 10-11
Mesilla Park: Tues. 10-11
Munson: Wed. 9-11
Benavidez: Mon.10-11

Come and experience the 15-Minute StressOut. You will be invigorated and relaxed. You may even want to give the "chair like" massage yourself. You only have to give six StressOuts to get certified. And if you want to join the volunteer team, your participation would be a great addition. If you are interested in volunteering, talk with Jerry when he is at the sites, or call Francesca Smith at (505)541-2460, Cher Guerrero at (505)528-3005, or Aurora Ybarra at (505)528-3000.

 

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