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 Massage Pioneer Sister Rosalind Gefre Sister Rosalind is the founder of the Sister Rosalind Schools and Clinics of Massage, with locations throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. Over 10,000 people have taken her massage classes and she has been internationally recognized as a true massage pioneer. She has been featured in Time Magazine and last year was inducted into the Massage Hall of Fame. For nearly 25 years, Sister Rosalind has been serving the community with therapeutic massage through her "Massage Ministry". In the same spirit of serving the community, she is now turning her focus to the increasing number of family caregivers who are undergoing extraordinary stress from the competing demands of work, family and caregiving. This stress has resulted in emotional, physical and financial hardships and higher rates of depression, divorce and death among caregivers.  Family caregivers who provide care 36 or more hours weekly are more likely than non-caregivers to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. For spouses the rate is six times higher; for those caring for a parent the rate is twice as high. Source: Cannuscio, C.C., C. Jones, I. Kawachi, G.A. Colditz, L. Berkman and E. Rimm, Reverberation of family illness: A longitudinal assessment of informal caregiver and mental health status in the nurses' health study. American Journal of Public Health 92:305-1311, 2002. |
Massage Pioneer Sister Rosalind Gefre Announces New Family Caregiver Programs to Relieve Caregiver Burden – Read News Release / Read Massage Magazine Article Are you a caregiver, or do you know someone who is a caregiver, for a loved one with chronic illness, a disability or elderly? Then you should learn about Sister Rosalind's new programs dedicated to bringing support to caregivers. Those who give care to loved ones experience high levels of stress, which can lead to all kinds of problems. Taking time for oneself to regenerate is critical for caregivers. Sister Rosalind, as an internationally-recognized healthcare pioneer and founder of the Sister Rosalind Schools and Clinics of Massage, wants to extend her healing influence to the growing caregiver community. In addition to massage, she wants to offer programs which reduce stress and work with the whole person on all levels – emotional, mental, spiritual and physical. Sister Rosalind will be offering a weekend getaway retreat for caregivers in November 2007, coinciding with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's proclamation of November as Family Caregiver Month. Info about FALL 2007 Minnesota Retreat Programs for Family Caregivers (includes price and schedule) Fall Retreat Will Feature Special Speaker Dr. Kathy Harowski – 
Dr. Harowski, PhD, LP, has worked with individuals, couples and families living with a variety of medical conditions. She has provided services to adult and youth from a variety of cultural backgrounds and worked in hospital, outpatient and government settings. Co-author of a book published by Wiley, Essentials of Crisis Counseling and Intervention and author of numerous articles and book chapters, she has trained and supervised a wide variety of professionals on topics such as stress management, relationships and intimacy, diversity and multiculturalism, and trauma and crisis intervention. Currently Dr. Harowski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Metropolitan State University in St Paul, Minnesota. Sister Rosalind's Caregiver Programs support and nurture body and spirit and reduce stress for caregivers of the aged and those with disabilities or chronic illness. FACTS ABOUT CAREGIVING 90 Million Americans Live with Chronic Illness The Center for Disease Control estimates that 90 million Americans live with chronic illness. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion states that at least 25 million people have chronic, disabling conditions. 50 Million People Provide Care for Chronically Ill The National Family Caregivers Association reports that more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year. And John Hopkins University research predicts by the year 2030, nearly 150 million Americans will have some type of chronic illness. Hardship for Caregivers The competing demands of work, family and caregiving are putting extraordinary stresses on caregivers resulting in emotional, physical and financial hardships and higher rates of depression, divorce and death among caregivers. Sister Rosalind Programs Relieve "Caregiver Burden" For over twenty years Sister Rosalind and her massage students and therapists have generously donated tens of thousands of hours of free massage therapy to the community. And now Sister Rosalind will provide programs to relieve "caregiver burden." Education and Support Sister Rosalind's Caregiver Programs give family caregivers an opportunity to take a break and be educated, supported and spiritually renewed in a peaceful natural setting. Sister Rosalind's Massage Ministry Over the past 20 years Sister Rosalind Gefre has built a large massage ministry through her Sister Rosalind's Schools and Clinics of Massage, with five professional schools and seven wellness centers and clinics in Minnesota and North Dakota. To date, more than 10,000 people have attended schools bearing her name. Sister Rosalind says: "It has been my dream for many years to create programs where people can come to seek the healing of the body and mind in a beautiful and peaceful natural setting. Sister Rosalind Caregiver Programs are dedicated to supporting caregivers of those with chronic illness in a place where people can enjoy the healing power of nature and seek regeneration of body and soul." |
 A Weekend of Rest & Renewal Friday, November 30 - Sunday, December 2 Held at the beautiful Riverwood Conference Center in Monticello, Minnesota, just 35 minutes from downtown Minneapolis SPACE IS LIMITED! Please call Peter Fahnlander at 651-554-3013 to register and for more information. SPECIAL DISCOUNTED PRICE! Only $275 for the entire weekend, all inclusive for luxury accomodations, meals and programs. This reduced price from the regular price of $499 is made possible through special scholarship funds from Sister Rosalind's. Inquiries are welcome about possible other scholarship funds to attend the retreats for those is need, as well as reimbursement for respite care through cooperating nonprofits such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter. View Television News Story about Sister Rosalind Sister Rosalind Helps Victims of Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Statistics on Family Caregivers and Family Caregiving from the National Family Caregivers Association Web site  Hands That Touch, Hands That Heal: The True Story of Sister Rosalind Gefre and Her Pioneering Work in Healing Touch |