If you have a loved one that recently moved to a senior living community, you might be looking for ways to connect with them in their new space. Visiting seniors is a great way to help them transition into their new life and remain in touch with the people they love.
Here are some ways your family can become a part of your loved one’s senior living experience:
1. Schedule Regular Phone Calls
If you cannot regularly visit the senior living community due to distance or other factors, plan on making regular phone calls to your loved one. A quick chat will keep communication open between you and your loved one without requiring travel or work conflicts.
Encourage your loved ones to talk about their new community. Ask them questions like: What have you been doing? Who have you met? What activities are you most excited about attending? Even if your loved one lives in a more supervised environment, they can still have plenty to share.
2. Visit When You Can
Visiting in person is a crucial part of remaining in their lives. If you have a loved one living in a retirement community, consider stopping by. Many residents look forward to seeing their loved ones, even those in more independent levels of care. It may not always seem like it, but your loved one needs visits to thrive.
Family-Based Community Events
Many assisted living communities host events that extend invitations to the residents’ friends and family. These community events encourage both social relationships with other older adults and family bonding time.
Events like craft classes, game nights, and group hiking trips are just a few examples of opportunities for families to stay involved in their loved one’s life. Check the residential calendar for dates and times of community activities when visiting seniors.
Private Family Visits
When visiting senior living communities, it is essential to show interest in their private spaces. Whether they have their apartment or home, set aside time for personal family visits.
Private family time is valuable when visiting your loved one. You want your loved one to feel at home and supported in their new community. This transition can be challenging but is made easier by a family’s support.
3. Give Family Keepsakes
When your family member moves into nashua crossings senior living facility or an option similar to it, they need visual reminders of the family that loves and cares for them. You can become a part of their senior living experience by adding family photos, antique items, and gifts to their residence. Consider helping decorate the living space when visiting, as another opportunity to bond together.
If you have passed down knickknacks and other keepsakes, your family members will appreciate having them in their new home. It will remind them that although they live somewhere new, they are still home.
4. Get to Know the Community
Connecting to the new environment is essential for seniors in retirement communities. Your loved one will have new friends to spend time with. It would be best if you made an effort to communicate with the other residents and get to know the area well.
Your family member can show you around their favorite parts of the space and take you on excursions. You can show them you care by expressing interest in their new life. You may even become friends with their new acquaintances! Remaining a part of their social life will help you stay involved, even though you live separately.
5. Send Frequent Reminders of Your Love
Many seniors appreciate any token of love—big or small—that they receive from their families. You don’t always have to visit in person to show small gestures of kindness to your loved one. Consider mailing them regular gifts, photos, and handwritten letters.
6. Keep Showing Up
Remember, consistency is important when it comes to our relationships with family. Keep showing up in their life, whether in-person or digitally, to maintain that connection.
When your family member moves to senior living, it can feel unfamiliar. You can help make the transition smooth and full of love by showing your appreciation for them. It makes a world of difference.