Our intention for providing the following list of pointers for visiting a long-term care center, or doing any kind of nursing home ministry, is to help you focus on some of the important practical issues of courtesy and protocol. The well-being of the residents is our foremost concern, as, we are sure, it is with you. Though they are not laws, these guidelines should be familiar to you and they should reflect your general attitude when volunteering in a care center.
1) Remind yourself as you enter the facility, that you are a visitor in the home of private citizens and you are there by their leave.
2) When giving food, candy, and drinks, be sure you are informed of any health conditions that may restrict a resident’s diet.
3) Allow an LTC resident to be sad or upset. Validate their feelings out of respect for them as a person. If you want to cheer them, redirect their thoughts on the same subject rather than trying to change the subject.
4) Do not presume to know a resident’s state of mind.
5) Do not confront the resident with your questions about dementia. If necessary, ask the professional care-giver on staff about a specific resident’s lucidness. Most importantly, personally get to know their level of awareness through a relationship based on your patience and understanding.
6) Some LTC residents will not remember being told previously about significant events or facts. Their reaction to “old” information will often be as though they are hearing it for the first time. For example, grief over the news that a loved one has passed away may be equally intense each time the news is discussed. Therefore, in such cases, do not lie to them but focus on helping them deal with their FEELINGS AT THE PRESENT TIME rather then being sure they have all the information exactly right. This is called Validation Therapy.
7) Speak to each facility resident by name, making a point to know how each resident wants to be addressed
(i. e., Mr. / Mrs. / Dr. / Rev. / etc.).
8) Do not presume that a nursing home resident knows your name. Though they will usually remember your face they want to talk to you by name. Help them avoid frustration by mentioning your name early in the conversation.
9) To most care center residents, touch is a very important communicator of genuine concern, personal affirmation and sincere affection. On the other hand, you should be sensitive to the fact that some residents are uncomfortable with being touched.
10) Due to immobility, poor hearing and reduced peripheral vision, elderly residents have difficulty changing their direction of focus when someone approaches on the side or from the back. Therefore, draw near to them from the front and speak to them face to face.
11) When speaking to a resident, pronounce your words distinctly and with a clear voice. Use no greater volume than is necessary for them to understand you plainly.
12) Do not use baby talk in your conversation.
13) Ask open-ended questions to encourage conversation. LISTEN!!! No matter what your role in the facility, be quick to listen to the resident.
14) Give them as much control of the conversation or activity as possible.
15) Before moving someone in a wheelchair always ask or tell them where they are going. In this way, being polite and considerate, you may also prevent hand or foot injury.
16) Most LTC residents in the United States consider themselves Christians and many are stronger in their faith in Jesus than you are. Be careful not to “talk down” to them.
17) Avoid making a commitment unless you are sure you will be able to keep it. Good intentions count a little but they’re not good enough when a resident is devastated with disappointment!
18) Older persons are just like you, only to more extremes at times because they have the added weight of age and experience! This works for them in some ways and against them in others. Be patient. Be kind.
Thanks to Audra Gray, past activity director of Dominion Village of Chesapeake VA., for her assistance in compiling this list.
For a “.PDF” version of “Guidelines for Care Facility Visitation,”
formatted for printing, click below.