I am wanting to volunteer at my local Residential Home carrying out therapeutic massage - Neck and Shoulders/Arms/ but I am worrying about how I manage to massage elderly clients who may/may not be on medication and may/may not have clinical conditions. Would it be feasible to pen out a consent form to which the client signs and the Matron undersigns?? Does anybody already massage in Residential Homes and if so would you be willing to share your knowledge and advice re consent/consultaton forms? Would I need to contact their GP's to glean consent from them for massage treatment to be carried out if they are on medications etc...
BH x
It may be worth speaking to the management to find out what their protocols are for external therapy. I visit a few residential homes, with the verbal permission of the residents' family and the GP, in order to do hand, neck and feet treatments. Most of the clients I see have varying degrees of dementia or alzheimers and are incapable of doing their own consent.
Thanks Jabba for your reply. I'll approach the management team and next of kin and if they agree; can they sign implied consent for a client with dementia for example?
I have never asked for a consent form to be signed, nor has anyone asked me to provide one.