Tips and Precautions for Visiting Loved Ones in Nursing Homes

Entrusting parents to a nursing home is a significant decision for many guardians. While some may still view it as a 'modern-day abandonment,' placing a loved one in a care facility doesn't mean family care ends. Instead, it can be seen as sharing the burden that families find difficult to manage, through professional care.

Han Jong-yeon, who has worked as a caregiver for over four years, disagrees with the notion that placing parents in a nursing home is a form of modern abandonment. He notes that perceptions of care facilities are changing, with younger guardians increasingly providing detailed self-introductions about their parents' characteristics and habits. Furthermore, more families are visiting more frequently.

The Importance of Regular Visits

Experts state there's no 'ideal visiting frequency' applicable to all nursing home residents. This is because visits depend on factors such as the parent's cognitive function, physical strength, and level of adaptation to the facility. Therefore, the key is to conduct visits regularly so that parents can anticipate them.

• During the initial period of admission, visits twice a week are recommended.
• Prepare questions to check on your parent's adjustment status during visits.
• After the adaptation period, visiting once a week or once every two weeks is more realistic.
• Utilizing phone calls or video calls between visits is also advisable.

What to Check During Visits

During visits, guardians should avoid repeatedly asking simple questions like, "Are you doing well?" Instead, it's important to observe your parent's condition more closely with questions like the following:

• What's your favorite side dish?
• Who is your closest friend in the room?
• What's your favorite program?
• Are you getting enough help when you go to the restroom?

These types of questions greatly contribute to your parent's emotional well-being. Additionally, it's crucial to check for changes in weight or signs of infection to monitor their health status.

Visits to Nursing Hospitals

Unlike general nursing homes, nursing hospitals are facilities where medical procedures are performed. Therefore, guardians must verify not only the care status but also whether medical treatments are being administered appropriately. It's fundamental to ask the attending physician or nurse about the current purpose of hospitalization.

• Confirm whether the purpose of hospitalization is for treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, or symptom management.
• Inquire about any new medications or discontinued medications compared to before hospitalization.
• Continuously check on non-covered medical treatments.

Once parents are placed in a care facility, the family's role shifts. Instead of direct care, it becomes important to monitor the parent's condition and ensure that necessary care and treatments are being provided properly. Remember that 'trusting the facility' is different from 'leaving all decisions to the facility.'