Long-Term Care Survey Alert

• Body relaxation (i.e. shoulders drop, head drops forward, hands open, arms or legs uncrossed, mouth opens)

• Tight muscles soften/relax

• Sounds such as groans, "purr"

• Breath release or sigh

• Change in breathing pattern from chest to belly, fast to slow or irregular to regular

• Genuine smile

• Movement toward you

• Eye contact

• Stomach "gurgling"

• Change in skin color (from white to pink)

• Change in body temperature (from cold to warm)

• Emotional release or expression such as laughing, crying, talking

• Falling asleep, snoring

• Holding or tightening of body parts

• Clenching fists and/or arm crossing

• Stiffening head or neck

• Clenching teeth or jaw

• Holding breath or change in breathing patterns from belly to chest, slow to fast

• Non-verbal "growl"

• Movement away from you

• Physical or verbal agitation Source: Ann Catlin, LMT, OTR www.compassionate-touch.org Handout from a presentation on skilled touch at the November 2009 American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging annual meeting.