老人家因為年紀大，身體機能及記憶力漸漸退化，常伴隨著糖尿病、高血壓或心臟病等慢性病，之前在病房工作時，幾乎只要是70歲以上的患者，每床都要驗血糖、打胰島素，而癡呆症更是我們害怕的，因為病人常會無意識的走動，並以為自己的幻覺是真的，家屬須時刻陪伴在旁，不得大意，看到這篇文章將靈氣運用在養護機構裡，真的是非常創新啊!靈氣治療在養護機構中取得巨大的成功!
Asquith Hall Nursing Home Introduces Reiki Therapy Sessions to Help Dementia Sufferers
阿斯奎斯護理之家介紹靈氣治療如何幫助老年癡呆症患者(2013.6.17)
Asquith Hall Nursing Home, specialising in the care and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), have announced the introduction of Reiki Therapy as they explore the benefits of alternative treatments to help relieve the symptoms of patients.
阿斯奎斯護理之家，專門治療及護理阿茲海默氏症和癡呆症(ADRD)，介紹他們如何探索靈氣療法的好處及成為替代治療，來緩解患者的症狀。
Many care homes are turning to alternative and holistic therapies to alleviate some of the many discomforts, both physical and emotional, which are characteristic of illnesses involving memory loss. These types of holistic treatments are not intended to replace traditional medicines which are vital in the treatment of dementia sufferers, but can complement existing treatments by helping to reduce depression, stress and anxiety.
許多護理之家及養老院轉向替代療法和整體治療，來減輕患者的許多不適，像是身體和情感上所特有的疾病，如記憶喪失等。這類型的整體療法並非要取代傳統藥物在治療老年癡呆症患者的地位，但卻可以補充現有的治療方法，有助於減少抑鬱、 壓力和焦慮。
What is Reiki?
什麼是靈氣?
Developed in the early 1920’s by a Japanese Buddhist, Mikao Usui, Reiki is a technique believed to heal by the transfer of universal energies through the palms of the hands. Performed by qualified practitioners, it involves the placement of hands either lightly or just above the person with the goal of facilitating the patient’s own healing response.
靈氣發展於早期1920年日本的佛教，由臼井甕男所發現的臼井靈氣認為通過手掌來接引宇宙能量能治療身體。現在則由合格的從業人員執行，它所做的僅是將手輕輕放置在患者身上，即能促使患者產生自癒力來讓身體痊癒。
“We understand that a lot of people may be cynical towards the more ‘alternative’ therapies, however, now it is being used in hospitals and hospices, and evidence shows that it is proven to relieve stress, so we feel it is in the best interests of our patients to offer this facility and so far it has been a great success,” – Barry Potton, owner of Asquith Hall Care Home.
"我們可以了解許多人可能會憤世嫉俗的說靈氣就是所謂的'非主流'療法，然而，現在它被使用在醫院、 收容所，並有證據顯示它證明來緩解壓力，所以我們認為在養老院的病患身上提供靈氣治療對這些患者來說是最有利的，到目前為止靈氣治療已經取得極大的成功，"— — 貝芮.波特.阿斯奎斯護理之家的擁有者。
The main aim of Reiki is to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which are all symptoms associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s. This in turn seems to help patients verbalise areas of physical pain which can then be addressed and treated.
靈氣的主要功能是減少壓力、焦慮和抑鬱，這是老年癡呆症和阿茲海默氏症相關的所有症狀。而靈氣也能治療及處理病人身體上的疼痛。(2015629 post on Blog)
