Working with Seniors

Working with Seniors,

Every Thursday I teach a class at the senior center in Santa Clarita about taking control of your life again. It took me over a year to get this class going and the senior center seemed resistant to allow me to do it. I was being interviewed on a radio show and the host of the show asked me if I was willing to help our local seniors and I told him that I would. The doctor talked to a friend at the senior center and within a couple weeks my class started.

The senior center did not think that many seniors would show up and did not want to use the word hypnosis because they believed the seniors would be resistant to it. So they booked me in a room that held up to 12 people and announced that I would be conducting a series of 6 classes on meditation.

When I went to the senior center to check where the class would be I noticed that there was no flyers and no-one knew about the class. I went home and talked to my wife and she told me if one person comes to the class it is worth it and once they experience my presentations they would promote it and it would grow.

The day of the class came and as I approached the center to look where the class might be I noticed that it had been moved. The staff told me they had to move it to a bigger room because too many people showed up to take it. We started with 24 people and the new classroom was filled and people were still coming. They had a blast because the next week they had to open up the classroom and include the room next to it as well to accommodate all the people. This continued and now the class is between 40 and 50 seniors every week and it is still growing. The seniors asked me to continue and I agreed.

My wife specializes in hospice and joins me at the senior center every week to help. She has called this care giving on steroids. These days it appears that we are not using our seniors in a positive way. We put them in communities and allow them to withdraw from society. The same society that they built for us to enjoy. When their bodies start to give out we place them with care givers that are poorly paid and trained in most cases and turn our back on a fantastic resource. I am lucky in that I have spent my whole life learning from seniors. I would spend my days as a child learning from my great grandfather who was 101 and when he passed away I learned from my grandfathers and parents. I did not take the time to learn what my peers were learning because it seemed silly. Our wisdom was in our seniors.

When working with seniors make sure to give them the respect they deserve. Don't give them that behavior that you give to a child. They deserve more. Make sure not to judge what our seniors are interested in either. Old does not mean dead and they are always looking to learn more and find new ways to experience happiness. One thing has changed today and that is the younger generation. With modern technology comes new ways for criminals to steal and take from those that still trust. News brings in disasters and negative messages everyday like we are living them ourselves. Politicians spread more fear to get emotions up and pretend to be the answer. Companies spread negative messages to scare you into buying their products. Today we are more aware of the outside world which in my opinion is not always the best thing. Take the time to question all the messages you hear and read and if it is done in hate or fear then just ignore them. If the information allows you to feel better about yourself and your life then accept it for what it is.

I learn myself every week working with these fantastic seniors. Take the time my friends to connect with the seniors around you and don't let one of America's greatest resources go to waste.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
President
Magi Institute - Hypnotherapy Training - Private Sessions - Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy
Magi Institute
Venice Nutrition Santa Clarita - Nutrition/Fitness Coaching - Weight Management
Venice Nutrition Santa Clarita
Heads Up, Inc. - Therapy on Horseback
Heads Up

Associations:
President - Valley Chapter International Hypnosis Federation
Member - International Association of Counselors and Therapists
Mentor - International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association
Member - International Board of Nutrition and Fitness Coaching
Professional Member - Attention Deficit Disorder Association
Professional Member - American Heart Association