Stay together while apart with Virtual Visits
Virtual visits now available for Home Health Care clients
The loss of consistent in-person connections has been one of the most difficult consequences of social distancing and extended periods of quarantine. Made even more difficult for those unfamiliar with today’s technology, parents or grandparents could use a hand adapting to the “new normal” of communication.
At Villages of St. Clare Assisted Living Facility, our trusted staff has helped bridge the gap of this technological uncertainty for our residents. Virtual visits are a great option for friends and families to stay connected when restrictions limit in-person visits. Whether it’s simply setting up the screen or facilitating an entire conversation, our skilled nurses and staff understand the importance of socializing during this isolating time. To set up a virtual visit with a resident at our assisted living facility, you can email stclareconnect@lsfhealth.org, or call 320-679-8322.
However, virtual visits are not just for St. Clare’s nursing home residents. Today’s times means expanding our definition of providing dependable, quality care and going beyond our “normal” list of home health services. So, as we continue strengthening our support for the entire community of Mora, our home health aides have added facilitating video calls to that list.
Visiting virtually with elderly family and friends may seem a daunting task, but our added health and safety precautions along with the technological support of our trained nursing home staff or in-home health aides is just what you need to get started.
Not sure of what to do once that window opens? Here are a few ideas for an engaging conversation:
Read together: Whether it’s a grandparent trying to reach their grandchildren or connecting a group of book club enthusiasts, reading can be a wonderful catalyst for keeping conversation light and keeping your minds off the stress of today.
Make a family recipe: Start by cooking together or start when the meal is ready to eat. Either approach is a wonderful way to share time together. There’s nothing quite like a delicious, passed-down recipe. So, ask your friends or loved ones to share their favorites and try whipping it up. Bonus points if you can cook to an old-school soundtrack from the loved one’s era.
Play a game: While it’s harder to play something like a board game, there are plenty of options that you can play in tandem or online, even when physically apart.
Do a craft: A simple craft can be lots of fun and another way to learn something new about grandparents. Maybe Grandma knits and can give some pointers via a video chat, or Grandpa can demonstrate some whittling techniques. Whatever handiwork grandparents are passionate about, encourage them to pass it on to your kids.
Whether you’re a current home health client of St. Clare, someone considering home health services for the first time or someone in need of virtual visit support (whether in-home or at our assisted living facility), please contact us for your free evaluation or for more information on how we can best serve you.