10 Tips for One-on-One Visits with Seniors

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Seniors living in assisted-living facilities often lack mental stimulation and social contact. This is especially true for people who are loners by nature or were living for a while on their own. They often choose to stay in their rooms all day and usually decline to participate in programmed activities. Recreation Therapists often use one-on-one visits to respond to the needs of those who avoid social settings. There are many enjoyable games and activities that can keep minds and bodies strong and active and soothe the spirit.

Here are a few tips you can use with a little creativity and minimal effort.

1. Read aloud something funny such as a poem or a joke.
2. Play with simple puzzles or a board game together.
3. Bring some trivia quizzes or word games.
4. Look at a family photo album together. If they don't have one ask their families to bring photos and make a scrapbook album together.
5. Ask them to tell you a story of their lives. Suggest school life, childhood friends, sports, siblings, their mother’s cooking, and their pets.
6. Find out what sort of things were of interest to them; a fisherman may enjoy looking at pictures of fish and a quilter may enjoy looking at quilt magazines.
7. Listen to the radio together; music, talk-back, book reading, science programs, ethnic programs.
8. Take a walk in the garden and reminisce about their previous life at home. Were they gardeners?
9. Offer a gentle shoulder massage.
10. Be genuine, your attitude will make or break a visit. If you are not there in body and soul they will sense it and become indifferent.

Be sure to look for more ideas on the Golden Carers website!

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