Sienna Senior Living shares the power of meaningful visits
Location: Ontario
Families can often feel overwhelmed by the changes they see in their loved ones in long-term care. They may no longer be able to do all the things they used to do together, and decline in physical and cognitive health can leave loved ones feeling helpless and frustrated, unsure of how to engage meaningfully during visits. All too often this uncertainty can become a barrier to visiting, impacting both the residents and their loved ones. What role do long-term care providers have in this cycle? How can we support, and why should we support?
Sienna Senior Living’s Circle Approach is an innovative model designed to answer all these questions and more with programs and services to support the happiness and well-being of people living in long-term care. The Circle Approach, made up of four pillars – Settle-In, Savour It, Stimulate and Socialize – was developed by collaboratively mapping the journey of residents and their families through long-term care to better understand their needs.
Social visits from family and friends are an important aspect of life in long-term care that can have many positive benefits for residents and contribute to overall well-being. Sienna’s goal of creating moments of happiness by supporting connections in the community led to the Development of Sienna’s Meaningful Visits program and is the foundation of the Socialize pillar.
Kim Lattimore, Resident Experience Partner at Sienna Senior Living, has witnessed firsthand the challenges families face when visiting a loved one in long-term care. “Working in a long-term care community, we take for granted that we are in tune with what residents need and are comfortable with all levels of interaction and engagement,” says Lattimore. “Our role is to help families navigate this transition, ensuring they feel comfortable and informed.
Lattimore notes that families often struggle to connect when they feel their loved one no longer recognizes them or cannot engage in the same way as before. “Our role is to support residents by ensuring that families feel comfortable so they continue to visit. Most families want to be there. but they just don’t know how to relate anymore. This is our world, and we can share what we know with them.”
Understanding the Journey
Supporting a loved one to move into long-term care involves a shift from a familiar home environment to a community living setting, bringing new experiences and questions. The Meaningful Visits program was crafted by a task group inclusive of executive directors (administrators), directors of resident programs, social workers, and Sienna’s Resident and Family Advisors – volunteers who contribute their knowledge and experience to enhance programs and services. The Meaningful Visits program is divided into four phases: Moving In, Settling In, Meeting Loved Ones Where They Are, and the Last Days, with specific tips, tools and resources tailored to each stage to help make the most of every visit.
This collaborative effort ensures the program addresses the real needs of residents and families and provides valuable resources at the community level. The program offers a brochure, a family portal on the Sienna website, and a Meaningful Visits Kit, all designed to support families in fostering meaningful connections.
These customizable kits are available at all Sienna long-term care communities in Ontario and British Columbia.
They help take the guesswork out of what to do during a visit with practical resources such as games, conversation starters, books and musical aides. Kits are conveniently located in each location, often in the Circle café, the hub of the home where many visits take place. In many cases kits are integrated right into the home’s décor, replicating how you might find similar activities in a family home.
A Collaborative Approach
Alf Chalk, a member of the Family Council at Bloomington Cove Community, contributed to shaping the Meaningful Visits program. His wife, Eileen, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2004, and he has been a dedicated caregiver ever since. “It all started when a friend noticed Eileen couldn’t follow the steps in a fitness class,” he recalls. Over time, Eileen lost the ability to write, speak and eventually walk, making it increasingly challenging for her husband to care for her at home. When the time came for Eileen to move into Bloomington Cove Community, Alf had to create a new routine for them – a routine that has evolved over the years to accommodate the changes she has experienced.
Today, Alf’s visits often coincide with mealtime so he can help Eileen eat. Although her ability to engage is limited and he isn’t quite sure what she understands, he talks to her about their family and what the latest news is.
While Alf has always been an active visitor, he has seen other family members experience varying degrees of comfort in the home. “It’s not surprising that families may feel uncomfortable and sad seeing what’s happening with their loved ones,” he says. “When the person you’re visiting has limited ways of communicating or interacting, it’s hard to know how to be there for them. But I strongly believe that while they might not recognize you, they know you are a comfort to them – you are someone familiar.”
Alf emphasizes this sentiment, sharing how music therapy has been a source of joy for Eileen. “You can see her toes tapping to the music under the sheets,” he says. “I play older songs she might recognize – Anne Murray and other Canadian artists to give her as rich an experience as I can because she deserves that.”
A care provider once shared with Alf a piece of advice that has stayed with him: “I hang my troubles on a tree branch before I go inside.” He tries to go into every visit upbeat and with a positive outlook. As an experienced visitor in long-term care, Alf is also a welcoming presence in the community, always greeting residents and their families and offering support where he can. For him, it’s all about creating a sense of community where a friendly conversation can go a long way, especially when people are in the same situation.
“It’s about understanding that the relationship is changing and supporting families in navigating these changes,” says Lattimore. “Whether it’s through a favourite song, a quiet moment of holding hands, or engaging in a simple activity, these moments can be incredibly meaningful.”
For the team that created this program, the hope is that families and caregivers will feel supported, and as a result they will be more present and feel a greater connection to both their loved one and the long-term care community.