{"id":5043,"date":"2015-05-12T07:00:48","date_gmt":"2015-05-12T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=5043"},"modified":"2015-05-06T15:47:39","modified_gmt":"2015-05-06T20:47:39","slug":"nursing-home-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2015\/05\/nursing-home-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Nursing Home Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Questions to Ask Your Loved One During a Nursing Home Visit\"Nursing<\/h1>\n

Visiting a friend or relative in a nursing home can be daunting, because it\u2019s hard to see someone you love dealing with health issues. You may worry that any conversation you make will either be too gloomy or too glib. Asking the right questions can help conversation flow naturally. And a good chat can brighten the day of the person you\u2019re visiting and help you assess their wellbeing and overall mood. There\u2019s a bonus to good talks, too \u2014 the opportunity for you to learn family history, hear new stories about a friend\u2019s life, and better connect with someone you care about. If you find yourself needing an icebreaker, here are some great questions to ask during your next visit:<\/p>\n

What have you been up to since we last saw each other?<\/em><\/h3>\n

Find out what your host has been up to since your last visit. Ask about outings, the community\u2019s fitness and craft classes, religious services, and other activities<\/strong><\/a>. If the talk turns to other topics, go with it. Your friend or relative may need a sympathetic ear to vent about an annoying roommate or a pair of pants that no longer fits properly. Who hasn\u2019t been there?<\/p>\n

Apart from the give and take of friendship, these chats can show whether your host is engaged in the community or isolated. If it\u2019s the latter, ask if she\u2019d like you to attend an onsite class with her, where you can introduce yourself and her to other residents. You can also speak privately with the staff to ask their suggestions.<\/p>\n

This approach worked when my 94-year old great aunt moved to a skilled nursing facility. Her sisters had passed away at that age, and she became withdrawn and anxious. The relative who had been her home caregiver chatted with staff members and met an outgoing 101-year old resident who was happy to befriend my great-aunt and get her out of her room \u2014 and past her fear of imminent death, which turned out to be unfounded.<\/p>\n

How\u2019s your health?<\/em><\/h3>\n

Casual visits are also a good time to drop in a few questions \u2014 not a barrage \u2014 about changes in your friend\u2019s or relative\u2019s health. Sometimes nursing home residents mention things to friends and family that they\u2019re reluctant to discuss with staff members. They might also have questions about medication or therapy that you can clarify with the nursing home staff or their doctor. By making regular casual inquiries, you can serve as an unofficial liaison between your loved one and his or her caregivers.<\/p>\n

Tell me about\u2026<\/em><\/h3>\n

Telling stories is how humans stay connected, both person-to-person and across generations. Ask about the distant past, your friend\u2019s childhood, their careers and children, or whatever you think they\u2019ll enjoy sharing. \u00a0This is especially helpful for dementia patients who may not remember recent events but have a clear recall of things that happened decades before.<\/p>\n

If you want to save these stories for other family members and future generations, ask if you can record them or write them down. Some people are happy to share their memories and family histories this way. Others prefer to leave the past in the past and enjoy today.<\/p>\n

What can I do for you before my next visit?<\/em><\/h3>\n

If a resident has anxiety or memory problems, she or he may fear that you won\u2019t return. To ease that fear \u2014 and to be a good guest to any nursing home resident \u2014 ask if there\u2019s anything you can bring or do for your next visit. Perhaps she\u2019d like some new magazines or wants to plan a trip to the grocery store with you. Find out, follow through, and keep asking the kinds of questions that will keep you connected.<\/p>\n

Did you know May 10-16th is National Nursing Home Week<\/strong>? Why not celebrate by making sure to schedule a visit to see your loved one, and take some time to thank\u00a0the staff while you’re there?<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Questions to Ask Your Loved One During a Nursing Home Visit Visiting a friend or relative in a nursing home can be daunting, because it\u2019s hard to see someone you love dealing with health issues. You may worry that any conversation you make will either be too gloomy or too glib. Asking the right questions can help conversation flow naturally. 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