As our grandparents or other seniors get older, it is natural that we want to provide them with the best possible living conditions and care if they have difficulties with independent living. Even though the facilities engaged in such activities aspire for a pleasant and safe environment, not all of them have succeeded in this goal.
Through their own fault or not, such failures and omissions usually “break” over the resident’s backs.
The most common problems are usually the lack of staff or resources, but there are also many other omissions that affect the mental state of the residents the most. That’s where you come in – with our advice – how to make your loved ones’ stay in such facilities more pleasant and better or, as a last resort, to move them away.
Recognizing and Overcoming Challenges in Low-Rated Nursing Homes
Nursing homes that do not work well or do not have the best reputation are usually in financial problems or lack of (adequate) staff. These situations are quite stressful for the residents, but also for their families because they constantly live with questions and worries. It is important to be able to recognize the signs when something is wrong and react in time or try to improve the situation (if and as much as possible).
Signs of Poor Conditions:
As a (bad) example, we can take a few nursing homes in South Carolina with the worst rating precisely because of these types of failures. Let this open your eyes to watch out for very important things and avoid bad experiences.
How Family Members Can Help?
Family often plays a key role in many things in life, including in these situations. You also need to bring joy and affection to your close ones so as to make their presence (and existence) more comfortable.
A study in the Gerontologist magazine revealed that the involvement of the family significantly affects the quality of life of the residents in nursing homes and that they themselves have a better and more pleasant experience and stay.
4 Entertaining and Beneficial Activities for Elderly People
We all hope that this will reach someone working in a nursing home and help out with ideas, especially for the entertainment of the residents. Then again, if it doesn’t reach any such person, there are families who’ll be supportive of each and every one.
Also, you can be the one to leave suggestions to the nursing home directly.
1. Active Exercises to Bring a Smile to Their Faces
You know how it goes – the small things are often, in fact, the greatest of things. Give your elders YOUR time and YOUR attention. They need it. It could be listening to their old stories, looking through photo albums, reading a specific book while their favorite music is in the background, or even dancing.
It could be many things, each with the prime goal to place that smile on one’s face.
2. Creative Crafting and DIY Activities
This is always a good idea because it encourages creativity in the participants and asks them to come up with ideas and make things with their own hands, be it a greeting card or a box for memories.
Not only can these types of DIY activities be done for fun, but also they’re also very therapeutic, as well. This is also a very good gesture for the occupants to leave behind what they have made as a souvenir of a showing their skill and potential.
3. Sensory Engagements to Enhance Comfort
Sensory-enriching activities are very crucial for elderly people who have memory loss or any cognitive challenges. Create a relaxing atmosphere with the music of their youth, scents and soft blankets to make their experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible.
4. Connecting Through Technology – Video Calls and Virtual Experiences
There is always the possibility that one of the relatives is far away or prevented from coming, but that’s why technology is there. So why not take advantage of what it offers you and enable video calls with loved ones?! If your seniors have some unfulfilled wishes or places they want to visit, but that’s now possible, too.
Homemade Treats & Sweets
Food has always been the language of love and care, so bringing (or making) simple sweets can turn an ordinary day into a special one. Let’s not forget sharing, which is an important part of the process of bringing together both you and your loved ones, as well as the residents of nursing homes.
A little reminder – be careful about foods and ingredients because seniors usually have special diets; so ask the staff about the allowed ingredients. Let that food be softer, but let it awaken the love both around you and in you.
Conclusion
It takes little to be happy, especially for older people who appreciate attention and company more than some random gifts. They are old, and they are most likely scared, completely aware of their mortality (now more than ever). And they’ll surely feel afraid if left alone. They don’t want to be forgotten.
And while their living standards, basic needs, and their health will be provided for by the nursing home, they will still feel that need for companionship, family, friends, and love. So don’t forget to visit frequently, call them often and don’t forget to add any, however small or insignificant, gesture just to reassure them that you’re there, and that you’re not going anywhere.
This way they’ll feel more at home inside of the nursing home, and they’ll feel more confident and reassured that you’re there with them regardless of the circumstances.
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