Moving a beloved family member into a senior supportive living community can be a tough transition for families. Staying connected and involved in what’s happening helps to maintain strong relationships and helps seniors feel supported and loved. Daily care may now be provided by staff members, but family caregivers and other family members still play a massive role in the emotional well-being of the seniors they love.
Frequent Visits
The easiest and most effective way to stay connected with an aging adult in senior supportive living is through regular visits in person. Face-to-face interactions offer an opportunity to spend quality time together and to create new memories. Some families find it easiest to schedule visits and stick to that routine. This offers consistency that is reassuring for seniors since they know when to expect a visit and can look forward to that time spent together. Casual visits might be something that family members can do more easily, however, and these can be a quick, uplifting experience for seniors.
Virtual Check-ins
When family members live farther away, though, visiting often isn’t necessarily easy to do. Virtual check-ins via video calls can be a great substitute. Video calling can feel like the next best thing to an actual visit. Other ideas include text messages, messaging apps, photo messages, and even checking in via social media apps. There isn’t a wrong way to do virtual check-ins as long as seniors know what to expect and have the tools they need. Collaborating in Decision-making Sessions
There are lots of decisions still to be made, especially when seniors are facing new or worsening health challenges. Just because seniors now live in a senior living community, that doesn’t mean that family caregivers don’t need to be involved in those decisions. Setting aside time for care conferences to talk about what’s going on with seniors and care providers at the senior living community gives everyone a chance to understand what’s going on and what decisions need to be made.
Family Events and Engagement
Senior supportive living communities understand how important family is to their residents. They often set aside time at various points of the year to host family events and celebrations, particularly around holidays. These are a great time to schedule visits for family members who live far away or simply to be sure to free up time to be at the community more often.
Emotional Support for Families
Caregiving is an incredibly emotional journey for families. It can be difficult to work through some of those feelings alone. Some senior supportive living communities may run family support groups themselves or can refer family members to these groups. There may also be family counseling and other ways for family members to get the emotional support they need.
Staying connected to seniors who now live in senior supportive living communities is essential for well-being on both sides of the equation. That connection helps seniors to feel less alone and it offers families the relationship they want to maintain with seniors, too.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Supportive Living in Granite City, IL, or surrounding areas, please contact the caring staff at Knollwood Retirement Community today at (618) 226-5755
Offering seniors age 65 and older a wealth of amenities to retain as much independence as they are able, with support, in a home-like environment in our supportive living community.
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