When your loved one resides in a nursing home or assisted living community, it can be challenging to maintain a close relationship with them. Having multiple ways to contact and spend time with them ensures that you’re able to maintain a relationship that is healthy for both of you. Below are four of the best ways to stay in touch with your loved ones that are in one of these facilities.

4 Ways to Bond With Loved Ones in Nursing Homes

1. Phone Calls

Phone calls allow you to speak with your loved one and check-in on them immediately. If they have a landline phone in their room, it may also be a more familiar option for them than modern models. Your loved one could also use a smartphone if they’re comfortable with it, and they’ll have the added benefit of being able to go online, stay up to date on the news, and play games with it.  

2. In-Person Visits

In-person visits to your loved one take more time and effort, so they mean more than a phone call. Try to take them out to lunch or a movie if they’re able. If not, bring books, magazines, new movies, games, and other activities to do with your loved one. Regular in-person visits will boost their mood and show them that they’re loved.

3. Video Chats

Video chats allow two-way video and audio communication. They work just like making a phone call, but you’ll be able to see each other as well. It can be done on any device with a front-facing camera. There are free apps you can download that offer video chatting capabilities, or if you have the same make of phone, there may be a way to video chat without an extra app. It’s a more personal form of communication than calling, and it enables your loved one to see and speak to multiple people at the same time.

4. Texting

If your loved one can text, buy them a simple phone with a large screen and a service plan that offers unlimited texting. The text-to-speech feature and voice-activated commands make it possible for those who can’t press the buttons to send messages and make calls. This method is the perfect way to chat daily when you can’t call or visit them. You don’t have to worry about waking them up with a ringing phone, and they can answer a text whenever it is convenient for them.

If your loved one’s nursing home or senior living community is too far away or isn’t meeting their needs, reach out to Mount Washington Care Center in Cincinnati, OH. For over 34 years, this locally-owned and -operated care center has offered comprehensive senior living and nursing care options, including short- and long-term rehabilitation. With 24/7 nursing care and 5-star ratings, you can rely on their physicians, nursing staff, and multiple registered, licensed, or certified specialists to provide elite care. Fill out a residency application online, and call (513) 231-4561 to schedule a free consultation.