Contact:
Kevin Kavanaugh
(773)
391-0272
kkavanaugh@hccil.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2009
Health
Care Council of Illinois Offers Its "Top Ten List" for Making
Successful Visits with Seniors during the Holidays
(Chicago) – The holidays offer families a special
opportunity to celebrate common bonds. But what about elderly individuals who
live alone or in nursing homes? It is always important to include these
individuals in family celebrations. By organizing well-planned and enjoyable
visits, friends and family members can help elderly people make the 2009
holiday season memorable and meaningful. The Health Care Council of Illinois
(HCCI), a state nursing home association, offers its "Top Ten
List" on how to make visits with seniors during the holidays more
rewarding for everyone involved:
10. Help with Holiday Decorating
-- Visitors can help elderly individuals put up a Christmas tree, place
decorations on walls, or hang up lights. Decorating could become a fun activity
for several generations of a family. For seniors in nursing homes, visitors can
bring holiday decorations with them to make these individuals' rooms more
festive and home-like. In addition, the elderly individual may enjoy working on
a craft project, such as creating an ornament for the Christmas tree or a
stocking to hang on the fireplace. A simple craft activity would be a fun
project for the senior to do with children.
9. Tape Stories or Create a Life Story Book
-- Seniors have a wealth of interesting stories to share. Consider
tape-recording these stories for future generations to enjoy. Or, try creating
a
life story book, which would consist of photographs,
announcements, newspaper clippings, memorabilia and text placed in a three-ring
binder that showcase the senior's life history.
8. Bring in Photo Albums or Other Memorabilia
-- During a visit, consider bringing in family
photo albums as a way to spark conversation, including pictures of holidays
past. Provide meaningful pieces of memorabilia that will elicit positive
memories, such as small antique items, a coin collection, a favorite book, or
other objects that reflect the background and the interests of
the individual.
7. Assist with Writing Holiday Cards or
Letters -- Because of arthritis and vision impairments,
many elderly persons find it difficult to write cards and letters. During the
holidays, consider helping an elderly person prepare cards for family and
friends. It may be beneficial to volunteer reading letters the elderly person
has received and offering to transcribe any replies back. In the nursing home,
the elderly person may find it challenging to get needed supplies, so consider
bringing cards, stationery, pens, and stamped envelopes.
6. Organize a Visit or Call from Clergy
-- This holiday season marks a good opportunity to organize a visit or even a
phone call between a senior and a favorite clergy member, especially if they
haven't had a recent opportunity to visit. They can also discuss news in the
congregation, describe this year's holiday events or simply catch up.
5. Bring in a Recipe Book and Plan Several
Menus -- Many seniors have a long history of holiday
entertaining and would enjoy dispensing advice on what to prepare for holiday
menus. Bring in some cookbooks and review the various recipes. It may be a fun
activity to bring in food supplies for preparing holiday fixings together, such
as preparing no-bake cookies with a person who lives in a nursing home.
4. Listen to Favorite Music Tapes or Old-Time
Radio Shows -- Bring in some of the elderly person's
favorite music, including holiday music from the artists of years past, and
listen to it together during a visit. A tape player would be a wonderful gift
for a senior who doesn't already own one. A creative approach would be to visit
the local library to check out audiotapes of old-time radio shows, such as Amos
and Andy, Jack Benny, or Fibber McGee and Molly. Holding a carol sing-a-long
and recording it would be another memorable way to mark the holiday season.
3. Do Some Holiday Shopping from Catalogs -- If
the elderly person is unable to go out shopping, bring the shopping to them.
Take over a variety of catalogs and peruse the pages for holiday gifts. Ask for
advice on what to get for various members of the family. Assist the senior in
making his or her own purchases.
2. Read Aloud from Newspapers, Magazines, or
Church Bulletins -- As elderly persons may have hardships
with reading, consider reading aloud articles from the
person's favorite newspapers and magazines. Large print books and periodicals
make wonderful gifts for seniors during the holidays. Church bulletins can also
serve as an excellent source of conversation.
1. Listen, Listen, Listen
-- Probably the most important piece of advice
is to truly listen to the words the senior person has to say and to hear
the feelings behind these words. Too often, visitors end up doing most of the
talking during a visit, because they feel uncomfortable and may be in a rush to
get several things done that day. Taking the time to really listen is one of
the most generous gifts we can offer to an elderly person, helping this
individual to feel appreciated, valued, and loved. If the person is unwilling
or unable to talk, holding a hand or giving a hug goes a long, long way.
While visits during the holidays are very
important, don't forget about the rest of the year! It is important that family
and friends take an active role in helping seniors who live alone or in nursing
homes feel valued and appreciated. Consider buying a calendar for the elderly
person for the year 2010, and marking down dates planned for future visits.
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The
Health Care Council of Illinois (HCCI) is a professional association of more
than 600 nursing facilities committed to quality residential health care in
Illinois through a productive and responsible partnership between the private
and public sectors. HCCI represents more than 65,000 nursing home professionals
serving more than 52,000 residents.