Four Benefits Of Visiting Your Loved One In An Assisted Living Facility

21 April 2016
 Categories: , Blog


When your loved one is in an assisted living facility, you may experience a form of confidence that allows you to continue living your life without worrying about them. Unfortunately, you can get so busy that you end up seeing them far less than you once did. Visiting someone in an assisted living facility can actually be helpful to their health. Social isolation has been correlated with depression, increased infection, and cognitive decline. In an effort to give yourself an emotional boost and give the resident a health boost, here are some reasons why visiting your loved one is a must. 

Check Up on Them

In 2010, there were about 735,000 people living in an assisted living facility, according to a study conducted by the National Center for Assisted Living. With so many people living in the assisted living facilities, you can expect each person to have a different experience living there. One of the biggest reasons you want to visit your loved one is to check on their health and safety. During your visit, you will be able to pinpoint areas of concern and help encourage health and nutrition. This is a great time to see how they are coping with the changes. 

Focus on Self-Neglect

Even if your family or friend is in an assisted living facility, it doesn't mean they are getting all their needs met. It is important to stay up to date on how the resident is doing. As their needs change, they may not be able to communicate properly to the staff. This means, it is your job to find any holes missing in their care. If you suspect your loved one is experiencing a decline in mobility or cognition, you want to talk with the staff about a change in their care. 

Reduce Loneliness

When your loved one is living away from their family, it can be lonely. You want to visit the resident to help them stay engaged. When you visit them, they are more apt to get out of their room and visit other areas of the facility. In return, they could end up meeting other residents.This can help reduce depression they may be experiencing.

Experience New Things

As people age, they are likely to experience some dementia. In fact, there are 47.5 million people worldwide living with dementia. While they may struggle to remember memories from the past, it can help them to create new memories. When you visit your loved one during holidays, special events, and other times, it allows your them to create new memories that they can hold onto when they have forgotten older ones. Learn more about this topic.


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