Moving to an assisted living facility is a significant life change that can come with fears of isolation. Seniors may feel they won’t be able to stay in touch with loved ones or see anyone once they make the move. Reassuring them that this will not be the case and taking action to remain connected in assisted living is vital for them to continue to feel loved and thrive in their new environment.
Encore Communities is committed to making the transition to assisted living easy for everyone involved. We want to share several ways to stay close to your loved ones.
How to Stay Connected in Assisted Living
Use Technology
While making a regular phone call is a great way to contact friends and family, seeing them is even better, especially if they are far away. Use technology to stay connected with a loved one in an assisted living facility. FaceTime, Zoom, and Skype are all great apps you can install for your loved one so that they can keep in touch. They are easy to use, but even if there is technical difficulty, a staff member at the assisted living facility will surely help. If your loved one has no phone or tablet to utilize these apps, see if the facility has shared equipment. This way, they don’t have to miss out!
Make Visiting a Priority
Whether you’re near or far, prioritize visiting your loved one. Schedule regular visits to see your family members and check on their well-being. It’s always a good idea to check on them periodically so you can notice any changes in their health. Regular visits will allow you to see each other and give your loved one something to look forward to from time to time.
Enjoy a Meal Together at the Assisted Living Community
If your loved one has trouble getting out, enjoy a meal together at their assisted living community. Many quality facilities offer top-notch meals for their residents. This will be a great chance to spend time together in a comfortable and convenient setting for your loved one.
Send Care Packages
Make it a priority to send care packages to your family member at an assisted living facility. Pack their favorite snacks or any other items you know they would enjoy having. You can also include family pictures that they can display in their home.
Besides homemade care packages, you can also send food deliveries. Consider fruits, cookies, or any other treat your loved one will enjoy having.
Schedule Virtual Meals & Watch Parties
If distance makes it difficult to have meals together, consider having virtual meals. Put the phone or other device nearby while you and your loved one have lunch or dinner. This will allow you to catch up over a meal and feel as though you’re there together in person.
You can also set up watch parties to see your favorite shows together. Use your video devices to see and talk to each other during your shows.
Send Real Cards & Letters
While technology is a great resource to stay in touch, there’s nothing like receiving regular mail. Take time to pick up a special card or hand-write a letter. This is a thoughtful way to stay in touch with your loved one. They will also feel how important they are in your life, knowing that you took time from your busy schedule to write to them.
Find Out More About Assisted Living at Encore Communities
If your loved one is ready to join the more than 818,000 Americans living in assisted living, Encore Communities is here to help [1]. We offer assisted living options at two of our facilities.
Our Clearbrook Inn location in Silverdale, WA, provides residents with customized care while allowing them to live safely and independently. Residents can choose from one or two-bedroom options as well as studio apartments. Each includes walk-in showers for safety, three nutritious daily meals and snacks, weekly linen service, housekeeping, and much more.
Assisted living is also available at our Laurel Cove Community in Shoreline, WA. Here, residents can choose from studio or one-bedroom apartments. Each includes daily social and recreational activities, weekly housekeeping, regular wellness checks, and more.
No matter which assisted living facility you choose, you can count on the Encore Communities staff to offer exceptional care. You can feel confident that your loved one has a safe and supportive environment in our assisted living communities. Our staff gets to know all of the residents and treats each one like family.
Call Encore Communities today or contact us online to learn more and schedule a tour!
Sources:
[1] https://www.ahcancal.org/Assisted-Living/Facts-and-Figures/Pages/default.aspx
Dan is Vice President, Marketing of the Alumus family of companies. A Seattle native, he earned his BA in Humanities and Political Science at Evergreen State College. He started his career as a newspaper columnist, eventually transitioning into marketing and tech writing for Microsoft and several other startups. He later launched a successful creative agency focused on branding, digital marketing, and content production in Los Angeles, where he worked for several nursing and behavioral health clients, eventually becoming the National Marketing Director for one of them.
He has taught Vipassana mindfulness meditation and MBSR and spends whatever free time he has with his son snowboarding, hiking, and camping in the mountains.