Bodywork for someone in delicate health is different from massage or energy work on a robust body. 
Techniques, positioning and duration will vary.
A key benefit of massage, Reiki and other non-directive touch modalities for the seriously ill or dying
  is stimulating the release of endorphins and oxytocin.
These hormones help to relieve pain, foster trust and ease the nervous system. 
Touch also strengthens the body's proprioception, which is the  ability to discern where the body is in space,
a sense that can become lost or confused through medications or dementia. 
Non-directive touch has the ability to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Touch also has the quality, in teacher Irene Smith's words , "to remind those in pain and suffering of their loveliness."


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