Nursing Home Adjustment contd.

Finally,  visit often, tell them when you'll next visit and stick to it. Your visits will become the highlight of their week. If you can, visit several times a week especially in the beginning.

When you visit there are many things you can do that will be enjoyable to both of you, which will help both of you to deal with any depressive feelings. For example…

Have a walk around the home and get to know other residents.

Offer to read the newspaper, a book, a magazine, or even the person’s mail.

Help write letters for them.

Go for a car ride then stop off for lunch, go window shopping or whatever else they would like to do.

If possible have them spend the night with you, particularly on special occasions like birthdays and holidays.

Bring a favorite card or board game to the nursing home when you visit.

If allowed bring their pet along.

You can bring a treat such as a favourite dish that you know they love.

Share a nursing home activity with your loved one (e.g., bingo or a sing along).

You could give them a voucher for the hairdressers or beauticians or a trip to the barber. 

The important thing is visit often -it’s not what you do so much as the fact that you’re there that will mean so much to your loved one.

At the same time, getting your loved one involved in nursing home activities will help lift depression. If left to their own devices to sit around feeling sorry for themselves they can easily fall into a slump and think progressively more gloomy or negative thoughts. Encourage them to get involved – they'll have fun and meet friends and really begin to look forward to the activities

Also, they may find an activity that makes them feel needed by the other residents. Perhaps they play an instrument and the other residents ask that they play after dinner. Perhaps gardening's more their thing, get them involved with the flower beds or vegetable plot.

Whether we want to admit it or not, life is more enjoyable when we feel we have a purpose. Feeling needed or finding some sort of "job" to do (e.g., like playing piano or gardening) may be just what they need to really start enjoying their new home.

Finally, some gentle exercise (okayed with the doctor) is a great way to boost the endorphins which in turn will lift their mood. All of the above tips will help ease the nursing home adjustment.

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