Death formally occurs with the client’s last breath and when the heart stops beating. If the massage practitioner is present at the time of death, it is appropriate to ask the family if they want you to stay, or if you can help them in any way. Offering to make phone calls or provide some type of assistance to the family can help them adjust to the death. It is important to be supportive of the family’s needs during that time. The family should be allowed to spend as much time as they feel necessary with their loved one after the death; there need be no rush to call the hospice nurse or the funeral home. Many families will choose to sit with their loved one, or invite other friends and family members to sit Endnotes 1. American Massage Therapy Association Survey, conducted August 2003; conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International, Princeton, NJ 2. 2003 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey Fact Sheet, American Massage Therapy Association 3. www.amtamassage.org/news/painfactssheet.htm, American Massage Therapy website
with them before taking the body away. The family may wish to bathe or dress their loved one for their funeral services. Many families ask that the practitioner or other members of a hospice team attend the funeral or memorial services for their loved ones. This ritual can be of great value to the practitioner, helping him or her resolve and put closure on their experiences with a particular client, and offers the therapist a final period of time with the family, where they can share their compassion and deep connection to the client.
4. From the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine, designed to measure noncancer, end- stage disease impairment Derek Doyle, Geoffrey Hanke, and Neil MacDonald, eds. Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, April,1999. Adapted version found at http://www.acsu.buffalo. edu/~drstall/karnofsky.html
CARE FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS Final Examination Questions Select the best answer for each question and mark your answers on the Final Examination Sheet found on page 100, or complete your test online at EliteLearning.com/Book
11. According to the National Institutes for Health, what percentage of adults will experience chronic pain at some point in their lives?
17. Which of the following is not an example of a long-term debilitating disease? a. Parkinson’s disease. b. Influenza. c. Multiple sclerosis. d. Systemic lupus. 18. Which of the following is not true of chronic illness? a. It refers to a disease, injury, or condition that changes little or progresses slowly. b. Like chronic pain, it can be a grave stress and strain on the individual. c. It is a short-term condition and heals normally. d. It may take a heavy toll on emotional as well as physical strength. 19. Which of the following statements about the physical condition of elderly individuals is false? a. An elderly person has less muscle tissue than a younger individual. b. An elderly person’s connective tissue is more flexible than that of a younger person. c. An elderly individual’s bones are thinner, and more easily broken. d. An elderly individual’s skin is thinner, and more easily bruised. 20. Which of the following statements about radiation is false? a. With external radiation, the body becomes radioactive, and touching clients who have received that type of treatment is unsafe for the practitioner. b. Side effects of radiation can include diarrhea, hair loss, damage to the reproductive system, difficulty swallowing, cough or hoarseness, bladder irritations and depressed blood counts. c. The inflammation caused by high doses of radiation can cause tissues in the treatment area to become fibrotic, which can lead to lymphedema. d. Radiation can also cause adhesions in muscle tissues, requiring attention and possible adjustments for clients experiencing this condition.
a. More than one-quarter (25 percent). b. More than one-third (33.3 percent). c. More than one-half (50 percent). d. More than three-quarters (75 percent).
12. Which of the following is not true of chronic pain? a. It persists for periods usually longer than 6 months. b. The painful area can be indefinite or poorly localized. c. The quality of pain may change over time. d. It rarely involves deep somatic and visceral tissues. 13. Which of the following statements about massage and pain management is false? a. Massage is the second most sought-after form of pain relief, after pain medication. b. Massage decreases the release of endorphins, helping increase the perception of pain. c. Studies suggest that massage can relieve chronic back pain, tension, and post-traumatic headaches more effectively than other common therapies. d. Massage can reduce pain and muscle spasms, such as those associated with heart bypass surgery. 14. Which of the following is not one of the significant benefits of massage for clients with chronic pain? a. Reducing stress. b. Promoting relaxation. c. Lessening the need for pharmaceutical intervention. d. Decreasing awareness of the body. 15. Which of the following is not true about trigger points? a. The cycle of pain encourages the development of trigger points at areas with poor circulation. b. These points become increasingly irritated, and refer pain and tingling sensations from the muscles and connective tissues to other parts of the body. c. Referred pain does not respond well to trigger-point therapy. d. Very sensitive trigger points can be numbed by applying ice to the area before massage. 16. Which of the following statements is false? a. Massage helps chronically tight or tense muscles experience more efficient blood circulation. b. The cycle of pain and poor circulation can discourage a build-up of collagen fibers. c. Inflammation, as well as normal muscle function, contributes to the accumulation of waste, and can also irritate nerves in the tense area, causing pain to spread. d. Massage helps to increase circulation, rehydrate, and soften the contracted muscles and fascia.
Course Code: MTX02SP
Page 15
Book Code: MTX1323
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