58 © REIKI NEWS MAGAZINE • WINTER 2013 • www.reiki.org I T’S BEEN ALMOST four years since the seed of develop- ing a Reiki program in a local nursing home was planted, nur- tured and grown. The first article 1 described how we laid the founda- tion, established introductions, developed volunteer application and screening guidelines and produced the resident intake process for Reiki sessions for documentation purpos- es. The second article 2 went into more detail, including timelines, troubleshooting, training volun- teers, teaching residents Reiki and producing the statistics from the Reiki session documentation. So, this could actually be ‘Part III,’ but as it began to sprout on paper, it took on a life of its own where the tail end of one program became the beginning of another. Developing a Reiki Program the Long Way The Reiki program began with visiting residents and estab- lishing which ones expressed an interest in Reiki. This was done in a series of workshops designed to teach interested residents Reiki where they would, ultimately, be autonomous with just a little help from volunteers. An outside list of Reiki volunteers was generated by offering experience opportunities to Reiki stu- dents and by placing an ad for Reiki volunteers in a free maga- zine. Forms were designed to produce statistics from the sessions and other forms were created for attendance purposes. In between we were becoming familiar with the facility’s rules and regulations, finding a permanent room large enough to hold the expanding group of residents and expanding the program to include visiting other “neighborhoods” in the facility. A weekly workshop was organized and still meets every Sunday morning after breakfast and before lunch. The residents who attend sit in a circle and begin with introductions, announcements, intentions, words of wisdom, etc. Once the initial residents were trained, they were able to partic- ipate and administer Reiki too. If a resident has a birthday during the prior week, they go in the center and Reiki is administered as a group. Then the ReikiShare begins! Most of the residents are in wheelchairs, so the Reiki vol- unteers help by administering Reiki to the areas they can’t reach, like the head and feet. The time goes by quickly. “Trans- portation volunteers” transport the residents to and from the Reiki group workshop. After lunch, Reiki volun- teers administer Reiki to differ- ent neighborhoods where the residents are grouped together by special needs and care. Here, the Reiki practitioners go from resident to resident and administer Reiki to those who would like to receive it. Before dinner, smaller groups meet to continue learning, prac- ticing and reviewing Reiki. Sometimes, special events are sched- uled including Reiki and gardening, Reiki and movies, Reiki and crystals, Reiki and crystal jewelry, Reiki and slide presentations, Reiki and music, Reiki and plays, Spa Reiki, and more...! Developing a Reiki Program the Quick and Easy Way You may or may not be a Reiki teacher and you may not like talking in front of large groups. You want to volunteer as a Reiki practitioner and the volunteer program you’re interested in does- n’t have a Reiki program. If there isn’t a volunteer program at all, you can approach the Recreation Department, and you can be sure that they will be open to some of your ideas! One thing you learn very early when working with the eld- erly is that they don’t like to be sedentary even though they may seem limited by their wheelchairs. Giving Reiki doesn’t have to be sedentary either. All you need is the time set aside by the coordinator, the place, help with transporting the resi- How the Elderly Enjoy Reiki BY J EANNETTE S TELLATO P HOTOS COURTESY OF J EANNETTE S TELLATO 1 Jeannette Stellato, “A Reiki Program for a Jewish Nursing Home for the Elderly Part I,” Reiki News Magazine, Winter 2012. 2 Jeannette Stellato, “A Reiki Program for a Jewish Nursing Home for the Elderly Part II,” Reiki News Magazine, Spring 2012.
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58 © REIKI NEWS MAGAZINE • WINTER 2013 • www.reiki.org
IT’S BEEN ALMOST fouryears since the seed of develop-ing a Reiki program in a local
nursing home was planted, nur-tured and grown. The first article1
described how we laid the founda-tion, established introductions,developed volunteer application andscreening guidelines and producedthe resident intake process for Reikisessions for documentation purpos-es. The second article2 went intomore detail, including timelines,troubleshooting, training volun-teers, teaching residents Reiki andproducing the statistics from theReiki session documentation. So,this could actually be ‘Part III,’ butas it began to sprout on paper, ittook on a life of its own where thetail end of one program became thebeginning of another.
Developing a Reiki Program the Long WayThe Reiki program began with visiting residents and estab-
lishing which ones expressed an interest in Reiki. This was donein a series of workshops designed to teach interested residentsReiki where they would, ultimately, be autonomous with just alittle help from volunteers. An outside list of Reiki volunteerswas generated by offering experience opportunities to Reiki stu-dents and by placing an ad for Reiki volunteers in a free maga-zine. Forms were designed to produce statistics from the sessionsand other forms were created for attendance purposes. Inbetween we were becoming familiar with the facility’s rules andregulations, finding a permanent room large enough to hold theexpanding group of residents and expanding the program toinclude visiting other “neighborhoods” in the facility.
A weekly workshop was organized and still meets every Sundaymorning after breakfast and before lunch. The residents who attend
sit in a circle and begin withintroductions, announcements,intentions, words of wisdom, etc.Once the initial residents weretrained, they were able to partic-ipate and administer Reiki too. Ifa resident has a birthday duringthe prior week, they go in thecenter and Reiki is administeredas a group. Then the ReikiSharebegins! Most of the residents arein wheelchairs, so the Reiki vol-unteers help by administeringReiki to the areas they can’treach, like the head and feet.The time goes by quickly. “Trans-portation volunteers” transportthe residents to and from theReiki group workshop.
After lunch, Reiki volun-teers administer Reiki to differ-ent neighborhoods where theresidents are grouped together
by special needs and care. Here, the Reiki practitioners go fromresident to resident and administer Reiki to those who would liketo receive it.
Before dinner, smaller groups meet to continue learning, prac-ticing and reviewing Reiki. Sometimes, special events are sched-uled including Reiki and gardening, Reiki and movies, Reiki andcrystals, Reiki and crystal jewelry, Reiki and slide presentations,Reiki and music, Reiki and plays, Spa Reiki, and more...!
Developing a Reiki Program the Quick and Easy WayYou may or may not be a Reiki teacher and you may not like
talking in front of large groups. You want to volunteer as a Reikipractitioner and the volunteer program you’re interested in does-n’t have a Reiki program. If there isn’t a volunteer program at all,you can approach the Recreation Department, and you can besure that they will be open to some of your ideas!
One thing you learn very early when working with the eld-erly is that they don’t like to be sedentary even though theymay seem limited by their wheelchairs. Giving Reiki doesn’thave to be sedentary either. All you need is the time set asideby the coordinator, the place, help with transporting the resi-
How the Elderly Enjoy ReikiB Y J E A N N E T T E S T E L L A T O
P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F J E A N N E T T E S T E L L A T O
1 Jeannette Stellato, “A Reiki Program for a Jewish Nursing Home for the
Elderly Part I,” Reiki News Magazine, Winter 2012.2 Jeannette Stellato, “A Reiki Program for a Jewish Nursing Home for
the Elderly Part II,” Reiki News Magazine, Spring 2012.
www.reiki.org • © REIKI NEWS MAGAZINE • WINTER 2013 59
Movie ReikiMost facilities have a room or solarium/activity room with a tel-evision in it. Select a movie (not too long) the residents willenjoy and line them up in rows to view it. During the movie gofrom resident to resident and administer Reiki.
dents to and fro and other Reiki practitioners to help out ifthere is a large group.
There are quick and easy ways to bring Reiki into a retirementhome, nursing home, residential life facility, senior center or neigh-borhood hospital in/out patient facility, and the staff doesn’t have
to be trained in Reiki to do it! Of course, the best scenario is step-ping into a facility that already has a fully operating Reiki program,including training for staff, volunteers and residents. The next bestis a Reiki program that offers Reiki to its residents (and staff).
Here are some fun and easy ways the elderly enjoy Reiki:
Slide Presentations and ReikiMost residents have life experience and some have traveled theworld. They love to watch slide presentations of your latest vaca-tion. Some of the presentations at one of the facilities includedMachu Picchu, China, India, Croatia and Sicily. During the pres-entation, Reiki can be administered to the residents.
Spa ReikiAlmost everyone comes to Spa Reiki, even the men! The facili-ty provides emery boards, polish remover and polish. Ask aboutthe rules in your facility. Most do not allow volunteers to cut, clipor trim nails or cuticles. A member of the staff can do this. Theresidents sit around tables and volunteers do the manicures whileReiki practitioners administer Reiki.
60 © REIKI NEWS MAGAZINE • WINTER 2013 • www.reiki.org
H O W T H E E L D E R L Y E N J O Y R E I K I
Reiki and MusicWho doesn’t like a sing-a-long? It’s easy to do and most of the res-idents will lead! Sometimes, a soloist performs or conducts a sing-a-long around the holidays. During these events, Reiki is admin-istered to those who want it.
Reiki and GardeningMost facilities have landscaping and lovely gardens. At one facility, the residents administered Reiki to the seeds and young plantsbefore they were planted. As they grew around the courtyard, the residents continued to beam Reiki...what a harvest they had!
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H O W T H E E L D E R L Y E N J O Y R E I K I
Reiki and CrystalsA guest speaker brought in various crystals and gave a mini-lecture on the subject. She also brought in various crystal beads. The res-idents used Reiki to clear and charge the crystals, then made crystal jewelry for holiday gifts. At another meeting, the residentsreceived Reiki as they listened and experienced the vibrations from crystal singing bowls.
Reiki Continuing EdThe residents love to visit their café or lounge. Occasionally,meetings are done there, and Reiki stories are shared. Be sure tocheck with the facility’s rules about food. Volunteers generallyaren’t allowed to bring food in or give food to the residents, butthe staff can assist with this.
These are just a few ways the elderly enjoy Reiki. Throughtheir wisdom we learn how Reiki becomes a part of daily life. Allwe have to do is tune in and let it flow! 1—Jeannette can be contacted by email at [email protected]
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