Visiting Techniques, Special Considerations, Intercare Corporate Group

Heart Of Excellence

Comatose or Severely Cognitively Impaired Residents:

You may wonder if there is any point in visiting residents who are comatose or who have experienced severe memory changes. The questions you might ask are:

How can I tell if my family member or friend knows I have visited?
How do I know if my loved one benefited from the time spent visiting?

It's impossible to answer these questions with any surety. However, you may find it comforting to know that many professionals who work in this area believe that the person does know, at some level, that someone is offering support. And even though there is no way to tell if there is benefit to the resident, coming to see a loved one may benefit you by helping you to work through grief issues. Visiting is also important in ensuring that the resident is receiving good care.

A Resident Who is Dying:

At this time, visiting can be vitally important. By holding the resident's hand or offering ice chips, you are providing emotional support through this difficult time. But, being present at a dying loved one bedside also provides the visitor the opportunity to grief and to come to terms with the pending death. If you find, however, that you are feeling overwhelmed by your grief during this difficult time, ask to speak to the chaplain or social worker.

Checklist

As a visitor to one of our facilities, you play an important role in ensuring that residents receive appropriate care. Keep your eyes and ears open during your visits. If you see or hear anything that you have questions about, discuss it with the staff or unit manager as soon as possible. If no on is available please complete a feedback form and a staff member will get back to you.

Resources

Did your family member or friend seem to enjoy or benefit from the visit?

Did the visit provide the resident with some fun and give him or her
something to look forward to?
Did the visit help to keep your loved one connected to family or
the community?
Was the visit stimulating for your loved one, both mentally and physically?
Did the visit help the resident feel loved and supported?
Did you see anything on the visit that caused you to feel concerned
about the care provided to your loved one or to anyone else on the unit?
Did you complete a feedback form outlining your concerns or your
compliments?

What was the best part of the visit? What was the worst part? What would you change on future visits?
How did you feel about the visit? Are you looking forward to the next visit?
Are you feeling resentful that other members of the family do not visit as often as you do?
Do you need to take a break from visiting or adjust other responsibilities to allow yourself some quality time?

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. 1996. Visiting with Elders: A guidebook for Family and Friends. Social Services Division, Baycrest Centre.

Thompson, Wendy. 1989. Aging is a Family Affair: A Guide to Quality visiting, Long Term Care Facilities and You. Toronto: NC Press Limited.

Bavis, Barbara. Visits to Remember: A Handbook for Nursing Home Visitors. Penn State.

Tips on Visiting Someone in a Nursing Home. Website address:
http://seniors-site.com/nursingm/nhvisit.html

Minnesota Alliance for Health Care Consumers. Making Visits Meaningful. Minneapolis, MN

Riverview Health Centre 2001. Handbook for Successful Visiting. Winnipeg Manitoba.

Content

Copyright © Intercare 2003. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be
reproduced mechanically, electronically or by any other means including photocopying
without the written permission of Intercare Corporate Group Inc.

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