Making the move into aged care can be a daunting and stressful time for you and your loved one, as well as the family. Despite knowing you want the best for your family member, it also comes with a fear of the unknown.
One of the biggest stressors can be settling in and wanting your loved one to feel included and involved in the home. Social isolation is a very real thing, where residents feel they have lost the support of their closest ones and are lacking the connections they had in their day-to-day life. Georges Estate are very aware of this and have implemented specific strategies to make sure residents are involved, with specially designed activities that appeal to a person’s varying hobbies and interests.
Thinking about social isolation issues comes at a perfect time with R U OK Day on September 8. In light of RU OK Day which is marked on September 8, this harm prevention charity encourages people to stay connected and have conversations which can help others through difficult times in their lives.
Contributing to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships, we thought that this was the perfect time to suggest some ways you can support your loved one in aged care, whether it’s through the initial transition into an aged care home or simply keeping the relationship strong with new expectations and way of life.
Georges Estate goes above and beyond in their lifestyle calendar to promote inclusion and a sense of community, and here are some of the benefits which comes with these programs.
Changing lifestyle calendar
If you follow us on our socials, you’ll know there’s always something going on in our home. This includes bringing in talented singers, artists and creatives from all around Sydney, with the many benefits as a result of these visits. Whether it’s a concert in the afternoon or a pet therapy session in the morning, these activities are a chance to bring residents together in the same environment and bond, encouraging social interaction. This creates an environment where residents can chat over the same topic with each other or meet new faces and create a connection. It builds new relationships and a feeling of being heard and seen while feeling part of a group.
Practicing hobbies
Another benefit of these activities for residents is getting involved in their favourite hobbies. Whether it’s a concert and enjoying a song or dance, or painting or gardening, these blocked-off times allow a chance for residents to concentrate and give their full attention to the task at hand.
Acknowledging calendar days
Another way Georges Estate makes everyone feel involved is acknowledging cultural and special event days. From Melbourne Cup, St Patricks Day or the Nepalese TEEJ festival, this is a chance for staff and residents to chat over the event and learn about a new culture. From food to clothing, it creates an inclusive environment and shows Georges Estate is a welcoming home and acknowledges different cultural backgrounds.
Providing variety
While it’s all fun and games having movie nights, garden days, walking groups, happy hour and pet therapy, such a rich variety of events benefits our residents’ mental health by providing plenty of breaks in the daily routine. Yes, routine is important, but having special guests and visitors also keeps the days exciting with something to look forward to. When pet therapy is once a month or a bus trip to a nearby beauty spot is on the card, this gives everybody involved a day to look forward to and create some excitement in the home.
Social isolation is a known stressor in aged care. However we have many steps in place to limit this feeling and create an involved and connected community.
While we have the involvement side covered, there are a few things you can do to check in and see how your loved one is going. Something as simple as setting time aside weekly, fortnightly, or monthly is vital in checking in and seeing how your loved one is tracking.
Set a time with no distractions, and simply sit there and listen. They may open up and share what’s on their mind, or ask for your advice; either way, this is a time to cherish and really be present.
Use these four steps to have a conversation that could change a life:
1. Ask R U OK?
2. Listen
3. Encourage action
4. Check in
We know what’s it’s like to vent to a close friend or ask for help with a situation, so this is a very valuable way to support someone’s mental health. It’s a chance too for you to also notice signs about how they’re mental health is going overall and spot if they may need some extra help.
We would love for you to come and view the home we have worked so hard to build and welcome you join in on one of our activities. You can book a tour here;
