The Coronavirus has brought on many challenges especially at nursing homes. Nursing homes have been forced to be on lockdown, given the close proximity from one another increasing the possibility of spreading COVID. Th is causes very limited interactions with the outside world for the residents.This has altered the lives use to regular visitations with loved ones.
Residents, especially those with dementia, think their family and friends have abandoned them or feel forgotten from the rest of world due to lack of visitations.
Depriving people of contact such as hugs, kisses, and physical interaction from their loved ones is just as dangerous as a virus. This leads to many of them feeling sad, depressed, and lonely.
Loneliness, helplessness and boredom are emotions that affect how we think, feel, and act. It impacts your thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
These tend to occur especially around holidays, which makes it just as important now as ever to stay in contact with your loved ones in the nursing home.
While our lives outside the facilities continue and are filled with family gatherings and outings, they are left with memories of traditions and the memories of getting together with their family and loved ones.
Contacting them on a regular scheduled basis helps by giving them something to look forward to. Many homes have set up various ways to do this via phones and computers so you can Facetime, Skype, and Zoom.
Another alternative way of staying in contact with them is sending them letters, cards, and care packages.
Get those in your community; kids from the schools, church groups, and relatives to write encouraging words and gathering up items they enjoy like games and snacks can help them feel loved and remembered.
Also, when visiting, help encourage them to stay active. Every nursing home has an activities department. Activities are the most meaningful and essential thing in the homes that can help improve mental well-being and can help eliminate depression.
It gives them structure to their days, helps with passing of time and gives purpose to their lives.
Activities in nursing homes usually consist of bingo, gardening, knitting, movies, games and exercising. These may seem small to some but they are ways that can help with mental health.
Our elders are some of the wisest people in our society. They spent their years taking care of us, we should make it an effort to help take care of them.
Showing them a little kindness by calling, sending a card or letter and sending little care packages would help them feel loved and remembered.
A physician once said, “The best medicine for humans is love.” Someone asked, “What if it doesn’t work?” He smiled and said, “Increase the dose.”