Visiting Techniques, What to do on a Visit, Intergenerational Visiting, Intercare Corporate Group

Heart Of Excellence

Do you find the visits boring?
Does the visit follow the same pattern time after time?
Are you watching the clock throughout the visit waiting for
a time when it would be acceptable for you to leave?
Is the resident sleeping through most of your visit?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. Successful visiting is an art, and it takes a certain amount of planning, effort and energy to turn a visit from just spending time into being special.

Continuing Care Facilities visits are different than hospital visits: When people are in a hospital, hey are usually in for a short time because an acute health problem. Visits usually take place in the room or the unit, so the resident can be supported through the health problem. The focus of the resident's life is on the acute health problem and on getting better and, as a result, the visit also revolves around the health problem.

On the contrary, when someone is in a care home, the facility literally is "home" for the rest of the person's life. Health problems may exist, but the objective of visiting is to provide the best quality of life possible within the resident's limitations.

The routine of the facility can appear to be boring. However, participating in recreation programs and other activities during your visits can provide residents with something interesting to do. The only limits to activities are your imagination and an individual's ability.

Adjusting activities for the physically frail:

Many residents are physically frail. You may be afraid that an activity is too strenuous for the resident. While some activities may be too taxing, even the most physically frail person needs some fun in his or her life.

If you have an idea for an activity, but are worried about whether the resident can physically cope with it, don't give up on the idea. Discuss it with the resident and staff. Could you engage in the activity for a shorter period of time? Or could the activity be adjusted to suit the abilities of the individual?

Most interests or activities can be adjusted. For example, perhaps your family member/friend was an avid gardener, but now has limited ability to move. You can help the person to maintain this special interest by attending a garden show or by bringing in some flowers for holding and smelling.

If you don't know how to adjust an activity to the appropriate functional level for your family member/friend, ask for help from our staff.

SUGGESTIONS

Be Creative: Don't to the same activity over and over again. Try different activities. Talk to the recreational or occupational therapist to get ideas.

Consider Past Interest and Hobbies: If you base an activity on a past interest, you will likely get a positive response from the resident.

Use an Activity jar: Make an event out of pulling a suggested activity for the next visit out of an activity jar in the resident's room.

Stimulate the Senses:

Hearing: ~ Listen to favorite music or new music; read aloud passages from
books, newspapers, letters from friends/relatives; go outside and listen to the
sounds of nature or traffic.
Sight: ~ Look through magazines or photo albums; use seasonal decorations
to brighten the resident's room; spend some time window gazing.
Touch: ~ Bring in a baby or a puppy for the resident to hold; encourage the
handling of fabrics of different textures; rub lotion on the resident's hands, back
or feet; bring seasonal objects for the resident to touch, such as leaves, flowers,
snow, etc.
Smell: ~ Bring a variety of herbs; visit a baker; bake or cook a favorite food for
the resident.
Taste: ~ Arrange for snacks with a variety of textures, flavors and temperatures
(hot, cold, sweet, sour, crunchy, smooth); bring in a home cooked meal.
Note: Before providing food, check with the staff about any dietary restrictions.

Reminiscence: This is one of the most important of all activities. Through reminiscence, you and your relative/friend can better appreciate the person's life. For the resident, reminiscence can validate his or her life and the uniqueness of that life. Here are some ways to help the resident to reminisce:

Review old photo albums, books and magazines together.
Encourage the resident to tell stories about his or her earlier life.
Compare and contrast how the resident did the tasks of daily living
(cooking, housekeeping, getting to work, etc.) with how it is done today.
Look at old objects or pictures of old objects. Discuss the role of the object in
the resident's life.
Make a Life History board together.
Visit places of past significance to the resident, family or the community.

CAUTION

In this pamphlet, we are encouraged to be creative in the activities that you and the resident participate in. However, for some residents with memory changes, a definite routine works best, and variation in that routine may be upsetting. If you find the resident becomes distressed by new activities ~ or even by leaving the unit ~ you may have to restrict your activities. Discuss your concerns with the staff. They will be able to assist you in developing a specific plan of activities that is appropriate for your relative/friend.

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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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