A Social Worker's job is to “to attain or maintain the highest practical physical, mental, and
psychosocial well—being of each resident.” This means Social Workers can help with
everything from counseling and providing emotional support, assistance in communicating with
staff and other residents, and provide encouragement to engage in community life at our facility.
Art Therapy strives to use art, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore feelings, foster self-awareness, manage behaviors, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem.
Meet two of our newest staff members, Terry Daly and Diane Judson. Both have copious amounts of experience in the geriatric care industry and we are extremely lucky to have them as a part of our team here at Hancock Hall. Here are a few words from each of them.
The elderly increasingly rely on nutrition to deal with the health issues and rehabilitation goals that a 30 year old may not have; as health becomes more of a priority with age, so does a healthy diet. And with the lifestyle changes that accompany the aging process, such as moving to a nursing home, older adults require diet modifications to help them adapt in a healthy way.
Whether you’re sending your loved one to a nursing home for rehab or respite, the question of lifestyle quality may be the first to arise. You may have confidence in the home’s medical care, but mental health is just as important to your loved one’s healing process.
Working in a nursing home is all about providing healthcare to vulnerable people who need your help. Nursing homes are here to provide seniors with a healthy, safe, and clean environment that caters to their needs, whether they need help with their diet, health conditions, or personal care. They are also great at providing seniors with the social interaction they crave.
As you may expect during a pandemic, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are being affected quite heavily by COVID-19. The age and vulnerability of those living in care facilities has meant that many families have been left worrying about their loved ones and unable to visit. Of course, you can talk to your family member in a care facility and help them to understand what's going on, as well as stay in touch remotely using video chat with the support of the nursing home staff.
If you provide care for an aging adult, chances are you’ve experienced caregiver fatigue at some point. Caregiver fatigue, also known as caregiver burnout, has been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s officially defined as a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion and can affect caregivers' ability to provide sufficient support to their loved ones. For this reason, it might be beneficial for the caregiver to place a loved one in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
Getting older is a fact of life, but we can all age quite differently. Not everyone who is older or elderly will need to have the support and care that is offered by living in a nursing home. In fact, if you make the decision to move them too quickly, then it could cause some tension or problems in your relationship. However, if your loved one is getting older and you’re thinking that they may benefit from additional support and help, then it is best to know what signs to look out for.
