A nursing home is a licensed residential facility that provides care for individuals needing a higher level of attention. The services provide care for seniors who have difficulty caring for themselves, particularly those who need 24/7 medical assistance and monitoring for severe conditions and rehabilitation.
For instance, the Skilled Nursing Facility in Lexington has a team of proficient nursing care staff that includes psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, licensed physical therapists, dieticians, psychologists, social service professionals, and other skilled professionals.
Choosing the right care facility for seniors is essential for the good of their health and well-being. Some determining factors to consider include the location, care services offered, cost, and the client’s reviews and recommendations.
In this article, you’ll find the beneficial ways of a skilled nursing facility in maintaining the emotional health of its residents.
- In-House Physical Therapy and Activity
One way to improve the health of individuals is by engaging to move, like physical activities. Unfortunately, seniors tend to live alone and usually become sedentary, which leads to some chronic illness brought by inactivity.
However, with the care services offered by nursing care facilities, seniors are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities that are suited to their needs. Some of the exercises include throwing a ball, bowling, golfing, bopping a balloon around, ring toss, or chair yoga.
These activities improve the eye and hand coordination, strengthen basic muscles, upper extremity range of motion, and core strength. Eventually, it helps the residents to get exercise and become more independent, leading to enhanced physical and mental health.
- Mental Activities for Seniors
Human beings must continue to sustain intellectual stimulation for the entire course of their lives. A decrease in mental abilities is associated with old people but an active pursuit of cognitive engagement may slow down cognitive deterioration.
Having a variety of mental exercises improve memory, reasoning abilities, and ability to learn. Some of these activities include:
- Solving puzzles
- Dancing
- Board games
- Reading
- Practicing a musical instrument
These activities are helpful to the overall wellness of seniors and may prevent or slows down the progress of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Furthermore, a 2019 systematic review concluded that the use of music showed positive mental outcomes for residents in nursing facilities. The results revealed an increase in socialization or communication, improved physical health, and reduced depression and behavior problems.
- Social Support
For seniors, living in isolation will lead to depression, which can prevent them towards recovery. Without social interaction, seniors may experience debilitating loneliness and an increased risk of dementia.
However, living with a skilled nursing facility will be helpful since they’ll be surrounded by staff, nurses, and other residents that provide them social and spiritual support. Keeping the spirits is essential to the emotional and physical wellbeing of the residents. The significant improvements result from maintaining healthy relationships and active participation of being a part of society.
To stimulate social interaction, these activities are encouraged:
- Lunch clubs
- Dances
- Volunteer opportunities
- Helping others
The key to a healthy social life is staying involved and allowing others to have significant access to their lives. A 2001 study found that talking with patients provides positive verbal interaction between certified nursing assistants and residents in nursing care.
- Involves Spiritual Aspect
The spiritual aspect helps residents maintain religious traditions as a part of their lives. This provides comfort and solace as they bring memories of their childhood. It’s a reminder that their existence is more valuable than the pain and suffering they’re dealing with in life.
Furthermore, the activities will provide them hope to the future of peace and happiness and a chance to reconcile a relationship with God. Eventually, these activities will offer benefits for the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the residents.
- Provision of A Balanced Diet and Nutrition
Elder people living on their own will have difficulty recovering from a health issue since they’ll have limited mobility, especially in preparing healthy meals at home. However, living in a nursing care facility will ensure a consistent supply of nutritious foods appropriate for individual diets.
Proper nutrition is essential to help facilitate the rehabilitation process of elder people. The resident nutritionist and dietician in a nursing home will make sure that meals will fit dietary needs and they keep track of the calorific requirements.
A 2008 study suggests that Individual Nutrition Rx (INRx) improves the nutrition care for nursing home residents. The albumin, serum albumin, and depression scores were improved by the intervention. It further suggested that the INRx process may address complex nutritional problems and affects the outcomes for older adults staying in nursing homes.
Bottom line:
The services offered by the nursing skilled facility helps maintain and somehow improves the overall wellbeing of the residents. With the support of skilled professionals and constant monitoring in nursing home care, the seniors are in good hands. Knowing that they’re safe, comfortable, and well-taken care of will give you peace of mind.