Improving the Quality of Life for Seniors
You can order multiple copies of Cactus Generation to send to clients and take advantage of bulk discounts.
Personalize your copies with your information printed on the back cover.
For information on pricing and orders contact Kandi Miller at Life Success Publishing.
tel: 800-972-0534
email: kandi_miller@lifesuccesspublishing.com
The American Massage Therapy Association, California Chapter published the following article in the Winter 2007 issue.
Based on a true story, The Cactus Generation traces the life of a woman, Virginia, from a solitary childhood through a challenging family crisis to her first experience with touch and massage. Watching her parents age and die and dealing with the disability of a child led her to a fascination with a deeper human connection.
Cactus Generation touches many topics around aging and care, including the effects and fears of aging, long-term care and Alzheimer’s Disease. On her journey, Virginia observed the benefits of caring touch to the elderly and the appreciation shown by those vanishing seniors. Her understanding of energy led to her discovery that communication was possible, even with those who were unable to use conventional methods.
In view of the increasing elderly population and the struggles and decisions faced by their children, Cactus Generation is a timely statement addressing a need in the senior segment. Swept away and forgotten when they can no longer care for themselves, seniors can become lonely and irritable. Their lives can be considerably enhanced through compassionate connection with appropriate touch.
The Cactus Generation will be released in January, 2007. Visit cactusgeneration.com for more information and to order the book.
Author Maggie Walters writes. . .
I have been working with seniors in nursing homes for the past few years. When I began in that setting, massage schools did not offer guidelines for working with the frail elderly population and I found that I had to adapt nearly all the techniques I had learned. My own body mechanics also had to be closely monitored because my clients were in unusual positions. Many of them were in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and were unable to response physically or verbally. When I talked with other therapists I found that some were working with seniors but they were invariably in senior centers and had some function. I found no one who was going into locked units and trying to bring some relief to people who were often left there for many years. I have written Cactus Generation with the intent of helping families see how they can continue to communicate with their lost loved ones.
Maggie Walters will be giving a presentation about The Cactus Generation at the joint conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging in Chicago on March 7th. The presentation will be in conjunction with the release of the book and is available through Amazon.com.
What happens to our seniors when they can no longer care for themselves? Often they end up in long term care and we suddenly feel that we have lost them. Maggie Walters, author of “The Cactus Generation”, tells a true story of the treatment of our aging society from the perspective of her own family and from working in care facilities. Many of her clients have been suffering from late stages Alzheimer’s Disease and are unable to communicate in a conventional manner. She will open your eyes and your heart.
Many families face the situation of moving an elderly relative out of their home and into a place where they will receive assistance and care. This is a difficult time and a lot of hard decisions have to be made. The idea of institutional care can be daunting to the entire family. When is it necessary? How can we determine what is the best quality of life during their last years?
The “Cactus Generation” explores the world of long term care for the elderly through the eyes of a therapist and her personal experiences. Readers will glimpse ways of communicating with their own elderly loved ones.
