23/12/2022
Caritas, Shiatsu and Dementia
Andrew Couse and two colleagues were invited to carry out a research project to study the effects of Shiatsu treatment on residents suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Caritas Socialis, a private foundation that runs three nursing homes offering long-term care, a hospice and day-center services in Vienna, facilitated the project, in cooperation with the International Academy for Hara Shiatsu.
The challenge of finding a suitable scientific methodology led to a collaboration with Dr. Kristina Pfeifer and the Shiatsu Research Network. Maria Schwaiger, registered nurse and Shiatsu practitioner, was responsible for the overall coordination and scientific management of the research project.
At the end of the eight-treatment series, an evaluation workshop involving Shiatsu practitioners, nursing staff, the research team and an external social scientist, was organised to analyze the data gathered. They were able to reach some mutually accepted conclusions as to the positive effects that Shiatsu can have in caring for patients with dementia.
These positive effects included:
– pain reduction
– increased physical and emotional well-being
– a heightened sense of physical self-awareness
– increased levels of relaxation, often continuing for several days after treatment
– smoother integration of newer residents into the care home situation
– improved communication and interaction on a non-verbal level
– improvements in verbal communication, eye-contact and responsiveness.
As a result of the universally positive assessment of the research results, Caritas Socialis expressed the desire for Shiatsu treatments to continue after the termination of the research project. Shiatsu has now become a permanent feature of the care offered by Caritas Socialis in their Rennweg location.
In 2019, Andrew and Maria presented the research and gave a workshop on Shiatsu and Dementia at the Annual Conference of the SPS (Syndicat des Professionnels de Shiatsu) in Paris.
Click the link to read the full story and hear Andrew in interview with ESF president, Chris McAlister: https://www.shiatsuresources.net/shiatsu-and-dementia/