Many people have always found it a challenge to stay involved in the lives of their loved ones who are in assisted living facilities. But in the last year alone, so many elderly people in these facilities have had to deal with loneliness that was never before thought of. And for the family members kept on the outside, knowing how to stay connected and share love had become hard to do.
Now that the world is opening back up again, you may be starting to wonder how you can turn over a new leaf when it comes to being a part of the life of your loved one in a facility such as this. To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to stay involved in the life of a loved one in an assisted living facility.
Help Them Make Their Space Their Own
Whether you plan to make frequent in-person visits or not, one thing you can do to help make life more enjoyable for your loved one staying in an assisted living facility is to make their space feel like home to them.
To do this, you should do your best to help them personalize the space as much as possible. Bring things from their old home that they loved or may bring back great memories for them. And each time you come visit or send a care package to them, try to include something that they can hang on their wall or set on a shelf as an additional reminder that you love them and are thinking about them.
Make Frequent Calls To Your Loved One And Staff Members
If you can’t be there with your loved one on a regular basis, what you can do is make frequent calls to them, either over the phone or through video chats, in order to catch up and see how they’re doing. While this might take some educating on your part, once your loved one gets the hang of it, this could help them be more social with other family members and friends, too.
And in addition to calling up your loved one, it’s wise to speak to the staff members of the facility regularly, too, so you can hear how your loved one really is doing. This can help you to know if any changes or adjustments need to be made in order for your loved one to be happy and healthy.
Volunteer Your Time
When you are able to make in-person visits with your loved one, you may want to consider doing more than just being there with them. If you’re able to spend your time at the facility serving those who live there, not just your loved one, you can help your loved one feel more of a sense of pride and a sense of community for the place they’re living. You can also better get to know other residents so that you can know who your loved one is talking about when telling you about their day.
If you’re wanting to be more involved in the life of your loved one living in an assisted living community, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how this can be possible for you.
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