Listen to this podcast:https://youtu.be/7ZgoaXRnn5E

Have you assessed your residents for feelings of social isolation or loneliness?
Do you know the Difference?
Have you ever been in a room surrounded by others and felt lonely?
You are there but you have an uncomfortable feeling because you are not connected with anyone.
Think of a party you are at but feel uncomfortable because no one knows who you are….
You feel not seen or heard….
Residents can feel the same way ….
Living in a long term care facility where no one knows their story… 
Or
no one has asked them to tell it…..
Feeling socially isolated because they loss their people in their social circle

What can we as Long term care professionals do to help our residents be connected:
1. Listen to the podcast below with an open mind
2. Humanize every interaction with your resident
3. Ask them to tell you something special about themselves or their day and listen
4. Share with them something good about your day.
5. Pause and give them a voice
6. Revisit rituals they had prior to pandemic
7. Assist residents in the mourning process of what and who they loss due to pandemic

Dr Whery points out in this podcast that now when she visits facilities that this is one of
concerns that residents are discussing…
They are mourning:
The friends they loss… 
Families who no longer visit… and
Staff that no longer work there….
Go on and listen to this insightful podcast and leave comments below of what your facility is doing
to help mitigate feelings of social isolation and lonliness for your residents.

May 2023\Skilled Nursing Support\maria.messina@skillednursingsupport.com