How to Make Friends at a Nursing Home

Adjusting to life at a nursing home isn’t the easiest thing for most people. Often it can take several weeks for new residents to start feeling at home in their new dwelling. If you are helping a loved one transition to an assisted living facility, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines while they try to adapt. Visiting your loved ones frequently and consistently will help them to build a routine and feel more comfortable.

If they are still having trouble making friends after a few week time, here are 3 things they can try that may help:

1.       List of Interests- Making a list of your interests can help you to recall all of the things you like doing. Take this list with you to common areas and talk with other residents. Share your interests with them and see which of them have interests in common. Often times you’ll find someone who likes the same things as you do and you’ll be able to share stories and reminisce of times past.

2.       Lend a Helping Hand- If you see someone around the nursing home and they need help, one of the quickest ways to make friends is to lend them a helping hand. Even something as small as helping someone pick up something they dropped can be enough to start a friendship. Don’t be shy to ask others if they need help and always be willing to give service.

3.       Attend Events- Nursing homes are fantastic because they usually have a full itinerary of events for you to choose from. Making new friends is all about being social. You need to look over the list of events and see which ones interest you most. Once you have decided which ones you like, attend the event and don’t be afraid to mix and mingle with the others there. Where it is a senior dance, card game, or outdoor sport, chances are there is an activity that you’ll enjoy.

Once again, if you are helping a loved one move into a nursing home you need to be aware of how difficult it may be for them. Being as sensitive as possible to their needs is very important. Also, you can never just drop them off at the car facility and then never come back to see them. This is a big step for your loved one so you need to try and help them feel as comfortable as they can. It is important to note that not all nursing homes take equal care of their residents. As the family member it is your responsibility to check with them often to make sure that they are receiving the kind of treatment that you would expect.

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