Things to Do When You Visit a Resident in Assisted Living

Experts say that one of the most important things you can do for a parent or another loved one in an assisted living community is to commit to visiting on a regular basis.  We are not suggesting every day or even every other day, in fact you need to give your loved one time to bond with those in their community, but rather to be consistent with your visits. 

If you worry about what you will talk about or do during your visits, A Place for Mom, the largest assisted living referral service, has some tips to help you spend meaningful time together.  One of their suggestions is to do a craft project together.  You will find all kinds of ideas on the Internet and can use upcoming holidays for appropriately themed projects.    Scrapbooking is another idea and will give your parent the chance to reminisce about the past and to share old family stories.  Pick up scrapbooking supplies at your local craft store and bring along plenty of photos (be sure to get some of your newer digital photos printed out) to use in the book. 

Visits to your loved one can be as simply as scheduling the time to coincide with a favorite TV show both you and your parent love to watch.  Not only can you enjoy the show together but then discuss the twists and turns that the program is taking afterward.  The same can be said for starting a book club, and if your parent’s eyesight makes reading difficult, you can read a chapter or two and then talk about the story.   If family members live far away, you could help them set up a video chat as many seniors are not comfortable with the technology to do it themselves.  Other suggestions include playing cards or board games, having a picnic on the grounds of the assisted living community, and creating a playlist of favorite tunes and then listen to it together.  

If you are looking for exceptional senior living, Beaverton area seniors are encouraged to consider MorningStar of Beaverton. Our community offers 66 private assisted living suites with spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans along with 38 secure suites devoted the care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.   At our all-inclusive community, we strive to meet seniors’ physical, emotional, spiritual and wellness needs within a comfortable, secure setting. Please visit our website for more information.  

MorningStar of Beaverton proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting.  Please contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.

Source: aplaceformom.com/blog/assisted-living-activities-for-your-next-visit/