By Kari Bell, River Garden Senior Services
make social interaction
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part of your health care plan iver Garden is delighted to again be able to welcome a limited number of visitors back on to our campus! Recent changes in the Governor’s executive order concerning nursing home visitation make this possible, albeit with guidelines, and visiting for Essential Caregivers and Compassionate Care Visitors began at River Garden on Thursday, September 10. You can imagine the excitement. In an open letter to the Governor in mid-August, CEO Martin Goetz shared support and ideas about how the Governor might move in the direction of allowing visitation in long-term care communities like River Garden, recognizing that COVID-19 has been the most humbling experience of [his] life and that prohibiting family visitation, except for compassionate care, has been heart-wrenching. Goetz also spoke about visitation on the Melissa Ross radio show in early September.
Lack of visitation is not the only example of the toll this pandemic has taken on our emotional health. Those in caregiving roles —personal or professional—have experienced stress and uncertainty with few outlets to reduce tension. Many families— old and young—have felt isolated, lonely and may even have become depressed.
At River Garden, we have been encouraged by each other. Staff & residents have become closer, and members at The Coves have answered the need for peer support by making phone calls to their neighbors, writing notes, initiating walking groups, and more. Plus, everyone has learned how to use technology to engage with others in new ways.
Altogether, it’s made me think that one secret to living a life of good health, longevity and happiness is remaining connected to each other. Auxiliary friends. Mahjong friends. Synagogue friends. Work friends. Neighborhood friends. We all need friends. It might not look the same as it did ten months ago, but let’s be sure social interaction needs to be a part of our plan for healthy aging.
Life is full of changes and coping with all of these changes sometimes feels overwhelming, especially when multiple changes occur at the same time or overlap, as they tend to do in later years. Regardless of how changes come about the way you handle them is perhaps the most influential factor in defining their impact on your health and happiness. Let your friends help. Right now, we are all experiencing a lot of emotions and a range of impacts due to COVID-19. Please take care of yourself, check on your loved ones, especially those who live alone, and connect with a friend. Doctor’s orders.
Being alone is different than being lonely. Even when we have to remain physically distanced, having social support is important. Here are seven (7) reminders about building and sustaining a good support network: 1. Make relationships a priority. 2. Recognize the importance of give-and-take. 3. Respect boundaries. 4. Don't compete with others. 5. Avoid relentless complaining. 6. Adopt a positive outlook. 7. Listen well. 31
