Have you wondered how you might assist the wellbeing of someone receiving short-term senior care? Today, considerable evidence supports the value of simply maintaining a positive, cheerful presence in another person’s life. As they struggle to recover from an illness or a medical procedure, most seniors genuinely appreciate sincere expressions of affection and respect from family members and friends!
Several Ways to Demonstrate Support
Sometimes elderly persons receiving short-term care suffer from depression or loneliness. They may feel isolated as a result of sustaining a health setback that requires medical services. By demonstrating they think about them, their loved ones offer valuable emotional support. Many different ways exist to express these sentiments:
Visits: One of the best ways to keep in touch with a short-term care patient involves spending time together. When available, this option can bring great satisfaction and joy to anyone undergoing a period of care. Pay close attention to medical restrictions, if any, placed upon the patient. (For example, it usually makes sense to check with your loved one’s physician or caregivers before planning activities requiring travel or sharing food.) The prospect of a visit may uplift a patient’s spirits. It allows them to look forward to speaking with loved ones in person.
Cards: Sending happy cards provide another great way to show you care about an ailing elderly person. The receipt of this type of mail may reassure a patient. A Mother’s Day or Father’s Day Card, a birthday card, or even a simple Friendship Card adds sparkle to someone’s daily life. When an elderly patient marks an important personal milestone, such as a birthday, family members may considering arrange a “card shower” by asking everyone who knows the patient to send cards of support. This effort allows patients to appreciate they have not been forgotten while in care.
Online Communications: Today, many resources exist for keeping in close touch with a short-term care patient via the Internet. Programs such as Skype allow face-to-face visits between people located thousands of miles apart. Additionally, some seniors enjoy exchanging emails or following others via social media postings on Facebook, Twitter, or other sites. Try and match any online communication with your loved one’s preferred way of staying in touch.
A Worthwhile Activity
Most elderly patients appreciate receiving communications from friends and family members. These supportive contacts promote happiness!