We’ve all heard of the holiday blues — and many of us have experienced them — but the holiday season can be particularly sad for many of the 58,000 residents of Georgia’s nursing facilities. The Georgia Health Care Association, representing the state’s skilled nursing care facilities, has launched “Share a Moment of Love this Holiday,” a campaign to encourage those of us lucky enough to have good health, family and friends to take a little time to visit a nursing home, even if you don’t know anyone there. Janice Langford, administrator of UniHealth Post-Acute Care – Brookhaven, talked about why the campaign is important and the role that we can play in it. Our time may be just the cure for our holiday blues.
For a nursing home in your area, go to the Georgia Health Care Association website, ghca.info. You can post a photo of your visit on Facebook.com/GHCA.info or tweet a mention on Twitter with the hashtag #ShareaMomentofLove.
Q: Can you talk about the campaign?
A: We would like the community to step away from Facebook or the phone and take a moment this holiday season to visit a friend or loved one in a nursing home, or really anyone confined to their home and lonely.
Q: Do residents get lonelier this time of year than others?
A: I think the Christmas holidays are the loneliest. There are lots of residents who can’t leave the nursing home — it is just too difficult. But they know their families are enjoying this time together. They remember their loved ones who passed away. This is just a really, really hard time.
Q: You care for many residents with dementia. Are visits important to someone who may not even remember who you are?
A: Even if they don’t know who you are — they may not know your name or remember your face — they know you are someone who cares about them.
Q: So the visits really make a difference, even with your most impaired residents?
A: They can tell. We all like to know someone is thinking of us — our population is no different.
Q: Many people have negative feelings about nursing homes. Do you think more people don’t visit because nursing facilities make them anxious or uncomfortable?
A: It is unfortunate if you let your feelings take you there — that is not fair to your loved ones. You ought to get over it and visit because it is the right thing to do.
Q: Can you just show up?
A: You can just come by and we really encourage that. The receptionist will greet you and we have a sign in sheet at the front desk. A great time to visit is any time after 10 a.m. and before 8 p.m.
Q: What if you don’t know anyone in a nursing facility?
A: That doesn’t really matter. We’re encouraging visitors to walk through and shake hands and smile. And if there are children in your family, residents just love them. If someone wheels a baby through the hallway, that will be the thrill of the day. Our residents love pets and they are welcome, too.
Q: Do you have to make arrangements to bring your pet?
A: All we ask is that the pet has its papers, that they have seen the vet recently.
Q: Does your staff get blue during the holidays as well?
A: It is difficult for the staff to be away from their families, too. But this is their job and for the most part they love what they are doing and they love their residents.
Q: The holidays are almost over. Any thought of expanding your campaign?
A: I love what this campaign can mean to our residents and hope the public embraces it. It is important to all of us.
The Sunday conversation is edited for length and clarity. Writer Ann Hardie can be reached by e-mail at ann.hardie@ymail.com.
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