At this point in time, I am paid to work two days a week for the project, though I frequently find myself working more then this-which is something I am happy to do on a voluntary basis, as the work is very rewarding. At the moment I am the only therapist working for The Project, but if the number of clients continues to rise, then one or more therapists may need to be taken on in order to meet the demand. The Lavender Project did take a while to get off the ground, but this was to be expected. I spent a lot of my time in the early months forging useful contacts and familiarising the local media and support groups with the services on offer, e.g; BBC radio; Eastern Daily Press; Age Concern; Alzheimers Association; Salvation Army; local hospitals; Doctor`s surgeries, and various associations for carers.
I am still heavily involved in promoting the Project (and Mind in general), often attending fairs, talks and exhibitions throughout Norwich and surrounding areas. Slowly but surely, referrals are starting to come in, but as most therapists will be aware, much comes down to word of mouth. By June 2003, a total of 36 clients had registered and received aromatherapy treatments through The Lavender Project. The majority of these clients do have one or more contra-indications.
Typical conditions affecting the elderly clients I have seen include: major surgery; Parkinsons disease; Alzheimers; arthritis;(both osteo and rheumatoid );various skin complaints; and depression/stress. Stress and depression is something that not many people associate with the elderly-when we think of stress, we tend to think of people who lead active and busy lives.
But the elderly have a lot to contend with.The prospect of dying. A rapid or severe decline in health. losing their home. Losing their independence. Losing their loved ones. Ufortunately, GP permission has never been a problem, despite the range and number of complaints some clients have.
In the majority of cases, Doctors have began to appreciate the benefits that complementary therapies can bring to their patients. Occasionally, the Doctor has suggested modifying the treatment to avoid a particular area of the body, but most clients do not receive a full aromatherapy massage anyway.
The areas I tend to concentrate on are the joints, the knees, the feet, and the neck and shoulders, as these tend to harbour the most aches and pain for clients. Those with poor skin conditions and circulatory problems also benefit from more specific treatments. All the response forms completed by The Project`s clients and carers have been very positive-the only complaint so far has been that they would have liked more treatments.