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Visit a Nursing Facility

December 2007

During this holiday season, I encourage you to extend your good will and season's greetings to nursing facility residents in your area who would greatly appreciate a visit and someone to talk to. The holidays are a time to celebrate with loved ones and friends and to be thankful for all the good things in our busy lives. When you visit with nursing facility residents you bring a small piece of the holiday season with you.

An estimated 84,000 Ohioans live in nearly 1,000 nursing homes statewide. Many of these people have family and friends who visit them regularly. Others seldom have visitors and some have no one to visit them.

There are some common sense rules to follow when you plan to visit a local nursing facility:

• Call the nursing facility for visiting hours and any rules and regulations.
• Don't visit if you are sick and could be contagious.
• If the facility approves, bring your kids or your pets.
• Check with your church to see if they have regularly scheduled visits to the facility.
• Check with the facility for any volunteer opportunities they may have.

Caroling, writing letters, sharing treats and cards, or even encouraging children to create artwork for the facility are all greatly appreciated ways to interact with residents. Many facilities will organize opportunities for visitors. Church groups may have members who make regular visits to area facilities. Some schools and scout troops adopt the residents of area facilities as part of community service projects.

In addition to valuable social interaction, visitors also help recognize and support quality care. If, during a visit, you see something that doesn't seem right or have questions about residents' rights, you can call the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman toll-free at 1-800-282-1206. Ombudsman staff and volunteers make regular visits to nursing homes to identify and resolve potential problems and to encourage residents to expect excellence. Volunteers are people just like you. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of residents, ensuring they are receiving the highest level of care, call the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman office toll-free at 1-800-282-1206 to volunteer.

Don't forget that residents who enjoy visiting with you during the holiday season would also enjoy talking to you any time throughout the year. Winter, spring, summer or fall - take the time to share some time with nursing facility residents in your area. They will enjoy it and so will you.

Barbara E. Riley