Honoring our elders in care through presence and craniosacral therapy

Honoring our elders in care through presence and craniosacral therapy

For the last decade in life I’ve worked closely with some of the most unique and amazing elders living and dying within long term care. I’ve held space as a chef, a nurse, a manager leading and mentoring staff, massage specialist and Registered Craniosacral therapist.

The opportunity to manage a fully remodeled boutique style care home in the heart of James Bay, not only gave me the chance to build an amazing resident focused care home, but the ability be in service catering to our residents. We created the comforts of home, meals, personalized fruit plates, breakfast to order and daily walks along the ocean. The staff were highly involved with our residents and engaged in daily activities and reminiscing. Our residents shared meal times with staff creating a family style atmosphere, residents kept their weight (some gaining a few pounds), our residents were heard and with added love thrived.

It felt as though I was surrounded by my grandparents, the energy was buzzing daily with music from Doris Day to Classical concerts. In time each resident began to continue their path on the journey towards the unknown realm. My therapeutic background gave me the ability to incorporate daily craniosacral therapy or “Cranial Osteopathy” and for some light massage therapy with a osteopathy approach.

Osteopathy definition is using a drug-free, non-invasive form of manual medicine that focuses on the health of the whole body, not just the injured or affected part. The focus being on the joints, muscles, fascia, cranial and sacral bones along with the spine. The treatment aims to positively affect the body’s nervous system, circulatory and lymphatic systems.

True Gift

This was a true gift, to be able to be present with each resident as they made their passage towards the light. Over the many years within the home the numbers of resident passing would increase but so did the numbers of passages without pain, without the use of narcotics or medications. Residents were able to be an active participant in their death process and share their final moments clear with families at bed side.

Journey

This work has been such an amazing journey into the present. Deciding to step away as a manager and assist in the opening of Ocean Tides Health Collective, gives me the ability to work with all ages of people meeting them on their path towards better health, vitality and wellness. Everyday, now feels like a day at the beach, surfing through life, and it’s tides.