blog post
My Personal Story
One day, I started to write my ideas for a healing method that combines all the wonderful techniques I had learnt over many years, and had always used – especially for my parents. What started to flow onto paper surprised me, though at the same time also felt natural, authentic and perfect. Some people might call it a “download”; a creative inspiration coming from somewhere, someone…
What I do know is that these ideas and thoughts arose from a personal experience with my mother. Endless notes on paper soon became ElderHeal™ – a tactile healing practice close to my heart.
The story behind the story of Elder Heal began in Melbourne.
I was caring for my elderly mother who had cognitive decline in an aged care home. An understaffed and overwhelmed health system unfortunately only provides basic needs care, leaving many residents deprived of the love, care and important healing of which touch therapy provides. In these circumstances family members often feel powerless.
For several months, multiple days a week, I visited to help care for my mother using my therapeutic skills in bodywork desiring desperately to bring as much comfort, love, connection and care possible, despite the difficult circumstances and conditions. This emotional experience was transformative for me and my beloved mother in a matter of weeks, proving the healing power of touch.
Over the course of a few months I (and the nurses) witnessed almost miraculous changes in my mother’s cognition and physical health. Upon learning that dysphagia was preventing my mother from eating well, or even at all, I forged ahead, using my knowledge about the body, pathologies, anatomy, physiology, symptoms and techniques – all to help improve functions contributing to her difficulty in swallowing and the intake of food.
I designed a treatment for my mother that used a unique type of touch therapy of which I specialise in and uses gentle motions on the soft tissues – called, Bowen Therapy – and included mobilisation techniques to reduce some spasticity in her limb, relaxation massage for the face, acupressure to stimulate meridian pathways, reflexology, aromatherapy and some movement techniques. I employed a blend of many skills of which I had gained throughout my long career in bodywork and natural health. I realised then what I gift it was to have these skills as looked at my mother’s face, now with rose pink cheeks with fresh blood flow.
In a short time and much to the surprise and delight of staff, my mother gained weight for the first time since arriving! (I also spent countless daily hours to feed her nutrient dense foods on each visit). She showed visible signs of improvement and vitality.
It is generally accepted in allopathic medicine that late stage dementia typically has a poor prognosis. This never deterred me in my quest, nor did it for my mother in receiving my undivided attention and healing touch – touch that sent ripples of love into her days. And so the closing several months of my mother’s life were filled with love, care, comfort, less pain, and a significant period of improvement.
When her time seemed to approach nearer for her transition, I continued to give love and comfort through the healing therapies – providing for a comfortable, gentler and loving process to lead mum into the journey of the afterlife.
Being able to treat my mother for many, many months in resident care – with what I have now named ElderHeal™ – was the greatest, most fulfilling and nurturing gift for mother and daughter to experience, connecting us always and for eternity.
It is from this emotional and heart-filled experience that I decided to teach my integrated method of healing for the elderly. The techniques I applied provided not only physical ease, but also connection, comfort and dignity for my mother during an otherwise difficult time of discomfort, fear, disconnection and isolation.
ElderHealâ„¢ is in memory of and dedicated to my beloved mother, Meropi Petridis.
May your loved one also experience the healing power of touch.