During this season of New Year’s resolutions, I would like to suggest an important one to your readers: making the time in 2008 to visit an elder at a nursing home. Too often, persons in nursing facilities receive few if any visits from family and friends, leading to feelings of loneliness and depression. These visits are extremely important to boosting feelings of wellness in the elderly, reducing their isolation and contributing to their overall quality of life.

Sometimes, family and friends don’t make these visits because they find it too difficult to see a loved one with an illness or infirmity. To make the visit easier, bring items with you to make your visit at the facility more activity-focused. Possible visiting ideas include looking through a photo album, watching a family video, preparing a menu of family recipes for an upcoming dinner or working on a craft project with children.

Many nursing facilities offer a variety of special events throughout the year for friends and family. Contact the activity director at your loved one’s facility for a list of upcoming activity programs. These programs can be very enjoyable and entertaining for everyone involved.

The best New Year’s resolutions are those that enable us to bring joy and happiness to the lives of others. Residents at nursing homes are very much in need of quality time with their loved ones, and would find a caring visit with you and your family most rewarding.