When your loved one moves into a long-term care home like Shaughnessy Seniors Community, in Port Coquitlam you can be assured that they are receiving top of the line care, while also having the opportunity to participate in many engaging activities throughout their days. Though residents are constantly entertained and cared for at Shaughnessy Seniors Community, it is important that they still have the ability to stay connected with their loved ones outside of their long-term care home. While Shaughnessy Seniors Community provides daily visitation hours, it is important to make your visits memorable when you have the ability to do so.
Here are 6 ways to stay connected and engaged when visiting your loved one living in a long-term care home.
Bring special visitors
To keep in touch with family members and friends, consider bringing along other people with you when visiting your loved one. For family members who live far away, you can even help facilitate a video chat or phone call during your next visit. When bringing children for visits, consider bringing an activity like a puzzle, or an item for “show and tell” so that the senior and child have the opportunity to bond together.
Enjoy music together
Music has the ability to boost moods, reduce stress, and increase happiness and engagement. This is why it is a great idea to bring music into your next visit with your loved one at their long-term care home. When you visit, play their favourite songs and have a sing along, or listen as they reminisce on memories from their past. If you are not sure what songs they enjoy, you can always ask older relatives or look up music that came out when they were young. If you are not sure if they are enjoying the music, watch their body language.
Reminisce over old photos
Looking over old photos or videos is a great way to spend time and strengthen the bond between you and your loved one at the long-term care home. By looking at old photos, you can help unlock memories for your loved one and they may even share more information about the backstory of the photos. You can start to learn more about their history and get involved in some deep and interesting conversations.
Bring a furry friend along
Being around animals like dogs and cats is highly therapeutic. If you or a friend owns a furry friend, consider bringing them along during your next visit to the long-term care home for your loved one to meet. Research has shown that spending time playing with animals lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. Interacting with pets can also aid in lowering cholesterol levels, preventing depression, and protecting against heart disease and stroke. If you are planning on bringing a pet to your next visit, consider letting the long-term care home staff know ahead of time so they can be prepared.
Get some fresh air
You can use your next visit to the long-term care home as an opportunity to help your loved one get some fresh air and maybe even a little exercise. Instead of staying in their room, consider taking them out for a walk to our garden courtyard. This could mean helping them out with their walker, or pushing them around in their wheelchair. During colder months, walking around the indoor facility is also a great option.
Read a story
Reading a story to your loved one is a great way to connect with them and let them know how much you care without having to make a lot of conversation. Reading aloud is best for our loved ones who are bed-bound or not very responsive due to health conditions or vision impairments. You can choose to bring a chapter book to continue each time you visit the long-term care home, or even bring an audiobook that the two of you can listen to together.
If you’re looking for a long-term care home in the Lower Mainland, Shaughnessy Seniors Community offers personalized and high-quality nursing care to support your parent or loved one. Located in Port Coquitlam, our boutique-style residence is warm, inviting, and can provide the resources required to keep your loved one comfortable and happy despite age-related health problems. If you’d like to learn more about our facilities and care plans, you can always visit our website or reach out to a member of our team and we’d be happy to help.