Living in a Nursing Home

When your family member is admitted in to a nursing home, you may wonder what goes on during a typical day. Do they lie in bed all the time? Are they getting up and getting the physical exercise they need to stay functioning? In this article we will discuss the typical day in a nursing home beginning with awakening to closing a day with family and friends.

Your loved one will awaken around 6am to receive a shower or bath. They are assisted with getting dressed by the nursing aides. Around 7am, your loved one will be assisted to the dining room for breakfast. If they choose, they may eat in their room, but social interaction is encouraged. Each resident is served a meal, with any dietary guidelines ordered by the physician. Your loved one will always have the choice of an alternate meal if they dislike the items on the menu.

Once breakfast is over, your loved one returns to their room where they are given their ordered morning medications. During this time, the nursing aides straighten up the resident rooms, change bed linens, fill water pitchers and visit with residents. Once medications are given, there is usually a morning activity. They can choose to attend exercise or an outside activity. Volunteers and facility activity staff help residents to enjoy all the fun. During this period and after lunch, rehabilitation staff may be working with those residents needing strengthening or assistance in walking.

Lunch is generally around 12pm daily. Most of the direct nursing staff should be available in the dining room to assist with feeding. Lunch is followed by an afternoon activity such as BINGO or a church group sing-a-long.During this time, there will be offered in room activities for those residents who can’t get out of the room. This may include sing along, manicure and pedicures, or simply socializing with activity staff.

The evenings are set-aside for TV watching, socializing with family and fellow residents after the evening meal. Most residents will retire to bed by 8pm. During the night, the nursing aides check on your family member periodically to make sure they are comfortable and safe. For those residents that have trouble sleeping or are night oriented, they will be assisted to the common areas where they can be watched by the nursing staff until they are ready to lay back down.

What follows is a typical day in the life of a nursing home resident. You are encouraged to ask about the daily routine when you go and visit a nursing home that you are interested in placing a loved one. Remember that this place is going to be their new home and they deserve to be comfortable in it.

View more articles and information at website, https://threelinks.org/senior-living.