State officials have a summer suggestion for Missourians: make sure to plan a trip to the nursing home to see loved ones when making vacation plans. The transition from home to a nursing home or other long-term care facility can be eased by frequent visits from family and friends. And summer is a good time to schedule those visits. Carrie Eckles is assistant State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. She says visits are important, because moving to a nursing home can be an isolating and depressing experience, and visits help. Eckles says visits help in other ways: relatives can give staff valuable insight on how best to care for a resident and frequent visits make it easier to communicate concerns with staff. Visits don’t have to be complicated, just talking and listening, sharing photographs, or sharing a meal.
