Inspired by the comfort that massage provided for her husband as he was dying young of cancer (and for her after his death), Susan Swetnam retired from a 35-year career as a university English Professor to become a Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in work with the elderly, those in hospice, people with dementia, and caregivers. She provides about a hundred massages each month through her practice, Balsamroot Massage, in Pocatello, ID. Susan is the author of many articles and nine books, most recently "In the Mystery's Shadow: Reflections on Caring for the Elderly and Dying" (Liturgical Press, June 2019). She offers workshops locally and nationally for caregivers in the practice of informed, compassionate touch and will be presenting at the National Caregiving Conference (caregiving.com) in Chicago in November, 2019.

tips by Susan