If your senior loved one is preparing for a move to an assisted living community, you probably have many questions. And maybe even a few worries. Will they like the community? How long will it take them to feel at home? What will your new role be in their life? It can be a big transition for the senior and for their family members.

What’s good to remember is that family members are considered part of the community, too. Both staff and residents want to get to know the family members of their new neighbors.

What can you do to build a strong relationship with community staff members?

We have a few ideas you might find helpful.

Building Bonds with Caregivers at an Assisted Living Community

1. Help staff get to know your loved one.

The relationships between caregivers and residents are vital. When team members get to know a resident well, they are better equipped to care for the senior. They are more likely to notice changes in health and well-being earlier so the appropriate interventions can take place.

By visiting regularly, especially in the early days after the move, you have an opportunity to help the staff learn more about your senior loved one. You can encourage your loved one to share their family history, talk about their work lives, and discuss recreational activities. In this way, you can help the bonds begin to build.

2. Show interest in the team members.

Don’t make the conversations all about your senior loved one. Inquire about the staff members’ families and interests. Do they have children or grandchildren? Are they a part-time student at a local university? Showing a genuine interest in staff members will help to establish connections. This can enable both of you to work together toward your loved one’s best interests.

3. Get involved in the community.

Most assisted living communities welcome family involvement. You might be able to help host a community event on a holiday or tag along during an outing to an area restaurant.

If you play piano or another musical instrument, you could volunteer your time to teach residents. The same is true for other talents like computer skills, art, and exercise. Be assured that you don’t need any special skills to get involved at the community. Spending time talking with residents is all it takes.

4. Thank team members.

The team members at assisted living communities work hard to ensure residents live their best lives. These jobs can be emotionally and physically taxing. A few words of sincere gratitude when you visit the community can make a big difference in a team member’s day.

If you have questions about preparing for this transition, our guide to making the move and our moving checklist may be valuable resources. We also invite you to contact us to learn more about assisted living or to find a Five Star Senior Living community near you.

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If a senior you love lives in an assisted living community, you no doubt understand the importance of family visits. Of course, weekend trips to Grandma or Grandpa’s house might look a little different now that they live in an assisted living community. But it’s important to include grandchildren, even the youngest ones, in these visits.

This is why we’ve pulled together a few fun intergenerational activities your entire family can enjoy together.

Intergenerational Activities for Assisted Living Residents

Here are a few ways to enjoy an intergenerational family visit to an assisted living community:

• Board games. Technology may have captured most kids’ attention in recent years, but board games can still be fun for families. Whether it’s a rollicking round of Monopoly or quiet, strategic moves made in a chess match, board game can make the hours fly by.
• Coloring books. That’s right – coloring books aren’t just for kids anymore! Adult coloring books are quite popular. They not only encourage creativity, but can also be a relaxing activity for people of all ages. So grab some crayons, colored pencils, or markers and get to work. Staying in the lines not required!
• Puzzles. Brain games are a great way to have fun and stimulate your gray matter. Jigsaw puzzles are always a crowd pleaser. If there’s room, set up a small table in the corner with a puzzle that you can work on together each visit.
• Chapter books. Everyone loves a good cliffhanger, right? Choose an exciting book, perhaps one that features an adventure story, and have a family member read a chapter every visit. Young grandchildren will be intrigued by a good plot—and it’s yet another reason to look forward to a visit with Grandma or Grandpa!
• Arts and crafts. Hands-on activities are a great way to keep minds and hands active during a family visit. Pick a simple craft idea that is easy for both little hands and senior hands to work on.
• Nature walks. If the assisted living community has landscaped grounds, take a walk together. Fresh air and exercise are a wonderful combination. It also allows the family to meet and socialize with their senior loved one’s friends and neighbors.
• Look at photo albums. Another enjoyable pastime for families is looking through old family photos. Seniors and young children alike will enjoy the trip down memory lane.

Treating You Like Family at Five Star Senior Living

Families gain peace of mind when a loved one makes a move to a Five Star Senior Living. That’s because we treat your loved ones just like they’re part of our family. Visit us online to learn more about assisted living options for your senior family member.

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In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday in May. In honor of the holiday, sons and daughters around the country will be treating their mothers and grandmothers to brunch, bringing them flowers, and generally doing whatever they can to make the day as special as possible.

But what if your mother or grandmother lives in an assisted living community and your celebration with her is limited to whatever plans you can come up with to host a gathering there?

No problem! Here’s a fun idea for celebrating the woman who raised you, made you feel better when you were down, and inspired you to become a better person.

Celebrating Mother’s Day in Assisted Living

First and foremost, you’ll want to include the right people in your planning. Since your event will be held at your mother’s assisted living community, be sure to talk with the staff in advance. Especially if you need to reserve a little extra space somewhere in the building. Staff can help you with those arrangements. In many senior living communities, they will even help with catering.

Try Hosting a Garden Tea Party

When cakes and tea are served in a pretty setting, something magical happens and a celebration comes alive. If the community where your mother lives has a garden or nice patio, it can be the perfect spot for a lovely afternoon tea celebration of Mother’s Day.

To transform a garden or patio space – or even an interior activities room- you’ll need a few props to set the scene:

• a table set with a pretty tablecloth (pastel colors are the good for spring celebrations)
• fancy cloth napkins in similar pastel shades – they don’t have to match
• vintage china teacups and saucers – again, matching sets not required
• a cake stand or two for added height at your table of treats
• buckets of flowers

That last one is key, especially if you’re holding your party indoors. The idea is to create a garden setting so gather as many flowers as you can. Containers can be anything from galvanized buckets for a touch of country charm, or vintage milk pitchers in bright colors. And you guessed it: pastels are best.

Serve ‘Ladylike’ Food

This is not the time to bring out the wings and pizza. This is a ladylike celebration so light finger food is in order. Don’t be afraid to tap into the classics here: cucumber and mayo on crustless white bread, quiche, and fruit tarts all make wonderful Mother’s Day food.

Unless your senior loved one is on a restricted diet, sweets are an essential menu item, too. Cakes, pies, cookies – indulge every guest with sugary treats, preferably adorned in Spring’s pastel hues.

When your guests gather for your Mother’s Day celebration, it officially becomes a party! There are plenty of games you could play together, but all you really need is a beautiful setup and plenty of light food and desserts.

Celebrating Moms at Five Star Senior Living

Wondering how else you can help a senior you love thrive during retirement years? At Five Star Senior Living, we honor and celebrate mothers every day. Contact the assisted living community nearest you to learn more!

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