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Determining the best time to visit loved ones in a nursing home can be challenging, as it’s not always easy to know when those loved ones are available for visitation. This article explores the best times to visit people in a nursing home, helping you plan a successful visit!
The best times to visit people in a nursing home are early afternoons, Saturdays, significant holidays, and low-activity days. If you’re unsure about the best time to visit your loved ones in a nursing home, reach out to the nursing home staff to discuss the most appropriate visitation time.
The rest of this article will go over the best times to visit people in a nursing home and explore some helpful tips that can ensure your visit goes smoothly. Let’s get started!
1. Visit During the Early Afternoon
Choosing the best time of day to visit people in a nursing home can be tricky, as each resident’s schedule is unique to their needs and preferences. That said, the early afternoon (between 10 AM and 2 PM) tends to be an excellent choice.
After all, by this point in the day, most nursing home residents will have enjoyed breakfast and fully woken up. Some may also have had showers or baths, helping them feel more prepared (and comfortable) for a visit from family members and friends.
Visiting during this time can also allow visitors to sit in during lunchtime. Depending on the specific nursing home, you might be allowed to bring a pre-packed lunch or request a lunch, ensuring you can chat with your loved one while enjoying a bite to eat!
Besides, sharing a meal can help you connect socially. According to Rutgers University, eating together can “encourage a sense of belonging,” potentially helping your loved one feel more at home in your presence.
Another benefit of visiting during the early afternoon is that you likely won’t interfere with much-needed rest times, which often take place in the later afternoon or early evening.
Of course, speaking with nursing home staff about your loved one’s schedule is crucial to ensure that your visit doesn’t interfere with the resident’s planned activities.
2. Visit on a Saturday
If you tend to work on weekdays, you might want to visit the nursing home on Saturdays.
Saturday visits offer several potential benefits for those with Monday-through-Friday working hours. For example, visiting on a Saturday ensures:
- You’re fully rested during your visit.
- You’re not bringing any post-work stress into your interactions.
- You’re free (potentially) for a longer period.
- You’re not rushing to get through the visit to prepare for the following workday.
Naturally, not everyone has a standard weekday work schedule. But the key takeaway is to select a day you’re not working, and ideally, one that is followed by another day off.
Attempting to cram a visit in immediately after work or directly before work can make you feel stressed and hurried. Although your loved one might be understanding about the situation, you’re unlikely to get the most out of your visit if you’re distracted by other matters.
Still, before you start scheduling Saturday (or regular weekday) visits, it’s vital to consult with nursing home staff about your loved one’s schedule.
Many nursing home residents have varied schedules that include unique activities each day. For example, a resident might enjoy painting classes on Mondays and swimming lessons on Wednesdays, while bingo games are reserved for weekends.
Visiting on a day when your loved one is expecting to attend a favorite activity can create a conflict, as your loved one might not understand why they’re suddenly being asked to miss their favorite pastime.
Therefore, don’t hesitate to ask your loved one (and nursing home staff) which day of the week would be best for a visit. And while you’re asking, take the time to inquire about which time of the day would work best for your loved one and the staff.
3. Visit During Significant Holidays
Although nursing home residents are never truly “alone,” it’s not uncommon for them to feel lonely when friends and family fail to visit during major holidays. In fact, approximately 40% of nursing home residents experience some form of loneliness.
That’s why scheduling visits on important dates, such as birthdays and holidays, is crucial.
While it’s also wise to visit your loved ones regularly (to help them combat feelings of loneliness), ensuring you’re connecting with them during celebrations (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Fourth of July, etc.) is also essential.
Some nursing homes have special visitation events during major holidays, which can prove exciting for residents and visitors. For example, suppose you and your family decide to visit people in a nursing home during the winter holiday season. In that case, you might get to enjoy a visiting choir, help make decorations, or participate in other familiar activities together.
It might not always be possible to visit for every significant holiday, but attempting to be there for as many as possible is sure to make your loved one feel appreciated, remembered, and celebrated.
And because there are often fun visitor-related activities planned during major holidays, stopping by during these times is bound to be memorable! Overall, significant holidays are truly some of the best times to visit.
4. Visit on Low-Activity Days
Visiting during major holidays (when nursing homes are busier than usual) is an excellent idea, but visiting on low-activity days is equally advisable.
In this context, “low-activity days” are days when your loved one doesn’t have many planned activities to attend to. So, for example, if you’ve spoken with your loved one and they’ve admitted that they don’t do much on Wednesdays or Sundays, you might want to aim for visiting on these days.
Spending time with people in a nursing home during low-activity days is a fantastic way to take advantage of their “downtime” and keep them company. It can also boost a nursing home resident’s morale.
After all, if your loved one doesn’t look forward to a specific day of the week because they’re uninterested in that day’s activity, replacing that disinterest with consistent visits can turn things around in a positive way.
Instead of feeling apathetic about that activity they don’t enjoy, they can begin looking forward to spending time with you! Besides, days with few planned activities tend to be more relaxed than those jam-packed with resident-favorite events and hobbies.
When your loved one is relaxed and happy to take their time chatting with you, the experience is bound to be more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Of course, selecting the best time to visit people in a nursing home doesn’t only come down to the day of the week, time of day, or the number of activities planned for that day. Consequently, it’s an excellent idea to keep a few handy tips in mind when scheduling your visits.
Helpful Tips for Visiting People in a Nursing Home
Naturally, not all Saturday mornings or early afternoons are ideal for visiting people in a nursing home. Some loved ones may have favorite activities scheduled during that time. Additionally, you might be unavailable to visit on Saturdays.
Fortunately, there are several helpful tips that you can utilize to ensure that your visit to a nursing home goes smoothly.
Let’s discuss these tips in greater detail to discover how they can make a significant difference and positively impact each visit!
Consult With the Nursing Home Staff Before Visiting
One of the most important things to do when determining the best time to visit your loved one in a nursing home is to consult with nursing home staff.
The staff can answer questions about your loved one’s schedule and preferences, helping you choose the best visitation time. Additionally, staff members can answer questions about the facility’s visitation policies.
For example, some nursing homes might restrict the number of allowed visitors to ensure residents aren’t overwhelmed. Nursing homes might also implement health and safety guidelines (such as wearing a mask or washing hands before entering a resident’s room) to prevent the spread of illness.
Of course, it isn’t always necessary to schedule a visitation beforehand. In fact, choosing not to notify staff about your impending visit can be preferable, especially if you’re concerned about the nursing home’s treatment of your loved one.
When Visiting a Nursing Home Unexpectedly Is Beneficial
Unfortunately, not all nursing homes provide the same level of care or treatment. Over the last several years, hundreds (potentially thousands) of nursing home residents throughout the U.S. have had to contend with several quality-of-life problems, including:
- Nursing home staffing shortages
- Medical neglect
- Improperly administered medications
Nursing home staff are often unwilling (or, due to contractual obligations, unable) to discuss such issues with the family members of residents. Sadly, residents with severe health conditions, including dementia or Alzheimer’s, might be unable to report lackluster care.
Arriving unexpectedly for an impromptu visit is one of the best ways for family members to get a candid look at how a nursing home resident is being treated and cared for.
So, if you suspect your loved one isn’t receiving the care and attention they require, visiting without prior notice could offer the insight you’re looking for. To learn more about what happens when parents go to nursing homes, read my other article. Here’s What Happens When Parents Go to a Nursing Home
Regularly calling your loved one in a nursing home to check in with them is also an excellent idea — for many reasons!
Call Your Loved Ones Often To Discuss Their Schedules
Even if you only have enough free time to visit a nursing home once a month or once every other month, you might want to get into the habit of giving them a weekly phone call.
Regular calls will keep you updated about your loved one’s care and activities, and they can also boost a nursing home resident’s mental health. For example, these calls might reduce feelings of depression, isolation, or anxiety — allowing your loved one to embrace each day with a more positive outlook!
Besides, when you make a point to enjoy a weekly chat with your favorite nursing home residents, you can subtly discover which days of the week (and which times of the day) might be best to pop in for a visit.
In most cases, nursing home residents are happy to share details about their favorite weekly activities and daily schedules. Engaging in conversations and asking plenty of questions about what your loved one has been getting up to can offer the insight you’ve been looking for as to which times they’re free and what days work best for them.
Naturally, you can also directly ask them about what days or times they’d most enjoy a visit. Doing so is a fantastic way to impart a sense of agency.
Remember, many retirement-aged individuals who move into nursing home facilities feel like they’ve lost independence and control over their lives. By giving them a choice as to when you’ll visit, you’re offering a little of that control back to them.
Set a Consistent Visitation Schedule
Consistency is key regardless of how often you intend to visit people in a nursing home. You won’t want to visit several times per month only to visit once in a blue moon afterward.
That’s because routines can become a point of comfort, particularly for nursing home residents with dementia. Everyday activities and routines lower stress levels (for residents and staff), and they can become long-term memories that make day-to-day life easier to manage.
So, if you intend to visit your loved ones in a nursing home each week, select a day that is consistently free on your schedule.
For example, if you always have the weekend off from work and don’t have any regularly scheduled activities on Saturdays, making a habit of visiting on Saturdays could be an excellent idea.
Although you might occasionally need to skip Saturday visits to attend appointments or events, your loved ones can still learn to expect you on Saturdays, thus making each visit a little less stressful.
Besides, when you keep a consistent visitation schedule, your loved ones can more easily look forward to your visits, making the experience more meaningful for everyone!
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