Visiting Loved Ones

Benefits of Visiting Aging Loved Ones in Assisted Living Communities

Visiting leads to a variety of benefits for emotional and physical health.

1)      Let your loved ones know you care.  This may seem obvious, and you may think your loved one already knows how much you care and love them. However, an in-person visit gives you a chance to be affectionate and serves as a reminder that you care about their well-being.

2)      Allows you to check up on their health. As you spend time with your loved one, you’ll be able to evaluate their overall physical and emotional health. You can take note to see if anything about them has changed since your last visit- are they showing any signs of depression or memory loss? Are they maintaining a healthy diet and taking proper medications? You’ll be able to listen carefully to any complaints or problems your loved one might be having, so you can be sure to address your concerns with the staff at the assisted living community.

3)      Bring back and create positive memories. By sharing stories of the past and present with your aging loved ones, you’ll help improve their mood and encourage them to engage. You can bring in photo albums or videos, or favorite music to bring back those happy times.  Also, by visiting regularly you’re giving your loved one something to look forward to and creating new memories for the future.

4)      Keeps aging loved ones socially connected. As mentioned above, staying social is vital to improve a senior’s quality of life. Keeping socially active can be as beneficial as being physically active! A visit helps your loved one’s emotional and physical health and gives them a sense of belonging.

Visiting aging loved ones not only helps break up the routine of their daily activities, but also keeps them feeling connected to the world around them. Make monthly, or weekly visits if possible, part of your own routine when your loved one has entered an assisted living community. Be sure to spend quality time with them, listen to their concerns and be affectionate.  Remember that your visit is a reminder of how much you care for them!