Visiting Loved Ones in Assisted Living
Moving into a senior living community can be a difficult transition. Your senior parent has to move out of the house they’ve likely lived in for years, if not decades. The place they’re most comfortable in and where they have many fond memories. They may be leaving behind friends and moving further away from family. And they’ll have to adapt to a completely new environment and to new people.
It’s important to reassure them that they’re not completely losing their previous way of life, and visiting them regularly is one way to achieve this.
The benefits of visiting loved ones in senior living
Visiting a senior parent in an independent living or assisted living facility helps to make sure they still feel connected with their family, their loved ones, and their former life. This sense of connection and belonging, as well as the general benefits of socialization, can have lots of benefits for the physical, psychological, and cognitive health of your loved one. It helps to remind them that they are loved and that they have strong connections in this world, which can help to combat common problems such as loneliness and depression in seniors.
Physically moving away from relatives can lead to becoming more distant socially and personally, but visiting regularly or even talking on the phone regularly helps to prevent this. If you have kids, then visiting with them helps to ensure that your parents continue to have a relationship with their grandchildren, which is a positive thing for everyone involved!
Visiting senior relatives regularly also allows you to assess their health and condition, as well as whether the senior living facility they’re living in is meeting their needs. This can give you the peace of mind that they’re happy and healthy where they’re living, or it allows you to make the required changes if they are not being looked after well enough.
When can you visit your loved ones?
When deciding how often to visit relatives in care homes, you should take both parties’ needs into consideration. Make sure you check when the best times are to visit your loved one, but also consider your own needs. Visiting your loved one shouldn’t be a chore, but forcing yourself to do so too often can make it become one, particularly if you have a busy schedule and have to travel a long distance. If you enjoy your visits, then they will likely be more positive for everyone involved. You can always bridge the time between visits with phone calls and video calls.
Check with the senior living facility to find out when you are allowed to visit and how often is acceptable. They may have set times or days when visiting is preferred. Also, if your parent has dementia or Alzheimer’s, their carer may be able to give you an idea of when they are more cognizant, helping you get the most out of your visits.
If your senior loved one needs to move into assisted living in Woodruff, SC, then contact us to find out more about our community and amenities.