Effectiveness of Social Work Treatment and Massage Therapy for Nursing Home Clients

Abstract

Objective: An ABAB single-system design was employed to test the efficacy of a combined social work treatment with massage therapy to improve the physical functioning of nursing home clients. Method: Six clients ages 75 to 90 were randomly selected in three small-scale nursing homes to receive baseline measures and two 7-week treatment programs over a 28-week study period. Activities of Daily Living level and frequency of personal assistance were measured by the caretakers at the nursing homes. Observations were noted by both the massage therapist and the social worker, who worked as a team serving each client. Results: Although the outcome patterns varied from one individual to another, significant improvements were found in three individuals. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the improvement in physical outcomes among the age 75 years or more (75+) population is largely influenced by the individual's current state of physical and mental capabilities.