Spending time with your family member provides a range of benefits. Learn how your presence can have a positive impact and discover tips for making the most of your visits.

Strengthening Emotional Health

Family visits often bring comfort to loved ones. Whether you stop by for a hug or take them out for the day, you're showing them they're a priority. Research suggests this closeness is important for well-being, as residents who experience frequent family visits feel they have a greater quality of life. Time with family is also closely linked to a lower rate of depression and loneliness.

Promoting Mental Sharpness

Keeping the brain busy and stimulated helps promote cognitive function among older adults. You can keep your loved one engaged with simple conversation during your visit. Tell an entertaining story about the grandkids, or spark a lively discussion about Arizona politics. You might even talk about a problem you're having and ask for advice.

Encouraging Physical Activity and Interaction

Staying active is important for healthy aging, and family visits are a great way to provide a spark of energy. Ask your loved one to show you around our senior community or introduce you to friends or staff to encourage socialization. If you want to stretch your legs, suggest a stroll along the nearby Phoenix Mountain Preserve trails.

Bethesda Gardens Phoenix also offers a full calendar with activities for our assisted living and memory care community. Look at the schedule together and consider accompanying your loved one to a group exercise class or trivia session.

Communicating With Staff

An in-person visit is a great way to check on your family member's well-being. You might notice something about their health or behavior that staff should know. Or your loved one might share a concern with you that they're hesitant to discuss with their caregivers. Your presence can reduce anxiety, reassuring your loved one that they're well cared for and understood. Any insights you share can help the assisted living or memory care team personalize their approach and make your relative's experience more comfortable.

Planning Meaningful Visits

Quality time can take many forms. You might have a cup of tea and catch up on each other's lives or participate in an activity you both enjoy. Try changing things up each visit to keep your loved one active and engaged. 

Here are some ideas to try:

• Do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle in their assisted living apartment.
• Go on outings and explore the community.
• Share a favorite meal or try new foods.
• Go through family photographs and reminisce.
• Read a novel or short story aloud and start your own personal book club.
• Get hands-on and try a simple woodworking project.
• Play favorite music and get up and dance.

Connecting the Generations

Kids have their own unique energy. Bring nieces, nephews and grandchildren to visit for a different family dynamic. Toddlers can play pat-a-cake and show off a beloved stuffie. School-aged kids might enjoy a funny video or going on a geocaching adventure. Tech-savvy teens can teach your loved one how to use social media to stay in touch or set up a video call with a long-distance friend. At Bethesda Gardens Phoenix, we have a country kitchen, so you can prepare a meal together or gather in the private dining room.

Whatever you choose, try to be present consistently. Short, regular visits are more impactful than waiting until you have a full day. When your family member can look forward to your visit, they feel involved and included in the family, and assisted living feels much more like home.

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