There’s no denying that the past year was a true test for so many across the country and in particular seniors and their families who faced the heart-wrenching challenge of not being able to physically see one another. When you think about it, we are all heroes for having lived through 2020 and beginning a new year with strength and resilience taking one another’s health and safety into consideration. As we move forward in this new year, we’d like to encourage family members and friends to remember their resilience and importance in the lives of their loved ones.
Family Matters
Family is what makes our heartbeat, and it is even more important as we age. Our aging loved ones often see their children and grandchildren as their greatest successes and the keys to their legacies. While they are living in an assisted living community, it can be harder for families to stay in touch. However, it is essential that family members make every effort to stay as connected with their loved ones as possible and let them know you care.
Those connections can be difficult right now, but they are still especially important. Even if you cannot physically go into the senior living community, you can still be a part of their lives virtually and from a distance. Skype, Zoom and other platforms allow family members to talk to loved ones, in addition to calling them on the phone, writing letters, sending pictures, and communicating with the staff so that you can stay present and connected.
For many of us, it can be a challenge to keep on top of everything this year, but we all need to remember that family is not only important, it is arguably the most important part of a senior’s life, especially senior family members who have dedicated their entire life to their own family. It’s important to be as present as possible, and remember that love can span the distance that we’re keeping in this “new normal.”
Friends, New and Old
There is a saying that friends are the family we choose. Other than family, friends are the most important people to seniors. For those who live in a senior retirement community, they can make new friends all the time. They are able to find people who have been through similar experiences to their own, as well as those who are completely different. Friends are the spice of seniors’ lives!
Old friends are just as important. It’s important to ensure your aging loved one has access to the friends they’ve known, familiar faces and voices, whether they just talk to them on the phone or are able to visit. Once again, it can be difficult to do this with everything going on. If your loved one is living in a retirement community and so is their friend, perhaps not the same one, you may want to take it upon yourself to ensure that they get to connect with their old friends by arranging calls or virtual visits.
Of course, friends can come from different age groups as well. So, whether young or old, give your loved one the gift of friendship that they so desperately need and cherish!
Care Staff Becomes Family
At Argent Court, our residents aren’t just residents – they’re family. When you take care of someone daily, you immediately form a lasting connection with them. When a caregiver is helping your loved one every day, they become part of their daily routine and their care. They see our residents every day and they get to know them, know about them and learn about their families. A good care staff will know about the important aspects of a resident’s life and ask questions about them – they will talk about themselves as well. It really does begin to feel like a friendship, especially in times like these when many seniors are unable to see their family and friends as readily.
During these times, care staff has become more important than ever, and not just because they are the only people residents see in many cases. They must care enough about the residents to be extremely diligent and careful in their daily lives as well as promoting best practices for resident safety and security.
If you are considering an assisted living community for your loved one, make sure to speak with the care staff and ask about their perspective of treating residents with care like their own families. Ask questions to learn how they form connections and foster resident wellness, mental health, and happiness.
A caring staff goes beyond just the nurses or caregivers they see every day. The people who care for them in other ways are important as well. From the hairdresser to spiritual support, engaging in fun activities, and eating the foods they like without having to worry, these things restore a sense of normalcy that is so important for our senior loved ones. These are the essential relationships that will carry them through this “new normal” and any other time their family cannot be there with or for them.
Looking for a Quality Assisted Living Community?
If you are looking to find an assisted living community for your loved one, you need to know who the people are who will be around them daily and caring for their every need. At Argent Court our team works passionately to provide safe, loving, and stimulating environments for our seniors who can no longer live independently but still want to live life to the fullest. We provide them with stable relationships, stimulating activities, good nutrition, and professional care to ensure that they can live their golden years in happiness and good health. At Argent Court, every question is a great question! So, please feel free to reach out to us to learn more. We’re here because we care about our family and the ones who mean the most to you!
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