Innovative illness-prevention strategies for long-term care

Humor and massage are suggested as infection-prevention strategies. Much research has been done about humor's effects on the body. Humor itself can't easily be evaluated, but its effects can be. Laughter benefits the cardiovascular system, the respiratory tract, and the musculoskeletal, endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. While injecting humor into medical settings can be difficult, it can be accomplished with the support of administration and staff. Once the medical establishment has agreed to accept more humor, people at all levels of employment will be willing to take steps in this direction. As with humor, LTC residents also benefit from the caring touch of caregivers. A short massage can help residents to relax and feel better about themselves. This can lead to increased mental alertness, increased physical activity, and improved socialization.