The Importance of Engaging all Residents

Introduction

As we grow older, we tend to become more isolated and lonely, which can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many older adults living in senior living communities. 

According to the National Council on Aging, approximately one in six seniors in the United States face social isolation, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and other health problems. Therefore, it's crucial to reach out to isolated residents and provide them with the support they need to thrive.

Connecting with isolated residents reduces loneliness and depression, promotes physical health, improves cognitive function, and provides residents with a sense of purpose. Read on to see how Sunridge Gardens, a Bria retirement community, was able to put this into action. 

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Background

Sunridge Gardens completely understands the importance of forming connections with residents. It’s a part of Sunridge’s mission to ensure that every resident is engaged and that they are all treated equally, regardless of their participation level in programs.

Jennifer Wasden, Lifestyle and Wellness manager at Sunridge Gardens, shared a very touching story about how she and her team reached out to an isolated resident in their community. They began to notice that a resident who used to come to programs regularly stopped attending. Even the other residents in the community were wondering where she was. Jennifer and her team were worried about the resident’s well-being and decided to take action to help encourage her to come back to the programs. 

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Solution

Using Welbi, Jennifer and her team checked the last date the resident had come to a program to confirm that she had stopped attending. With this information, they decided to send a card to the resident’s suite saying,

“We give a hoot about you!”

This special message re-inviting the resident to come back out was extremely impactful. She was beyond thrilled that Jennifer, her team, and the other residents were thinking about her and missing her. Ever since she received this kind, simple gesture, the resident has been attending programs regularly.

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Results

Jennifer’s team was easily able to identify that the resident was at risk of isolation using Welbi’s insights on resident engagement. They reached out to the resident and succeeded in re-igniting a connection. This provided the resident’s family members with peace of mind as well, as the team was able to reach out to them and share how many activities their loved one is attending. 

Not only was Jennifer's team pleased by the resident’s reaction, but the other residents were thrilled that she came back to the programs as well. The other residents reached out and told her how happy they were to see her again when she returned. It was extremely heartwarming to see! 

It goes without saying that simple gestures, such as sending a card saying how much you miss someone, can have a huge impact. Thank you to Sunridge Gardens for reminding us to never forget the difference that these gestures can make for a resident. 

If you have a story about how Welbi has helped your team make an impact in your community, please reach out to our team to help us spread the word! You can also nominate one of your team members for a Welbi Hero award.