Moving in

When your loved one transitions to long-term care, it involves a shift from visiting in their home to visiting in a community setting. You might have questions about what to expect during visits. Here are some helpful tips to guide you.

Where to Visit

Visit the Circle Café for a warm beverage or a cool treat.
Enjoy the outdoor spaces available at the community.
Ask to book a larger space at the community for family gatherings.
Enjoy a visit in the TV lounges or any of the common areas within the community.
Explore the neighbourhood on a beautiful day with your loved one. You may find local events, markets, parks, restaurants, and stores waiting to be discovered. You might even take a stroll to a nearby baseball field to catch a game played by local kids.
Discuss opportunities to join outings with the Director of Resident Programs.
Plan special occasions to take your loved one home for family visits or to stay connected with the local community. It can be a day trip, a casual leave of 48 hours per week, or a vacation absence of up to 21 days per year.

How to Visit from Afar

We understand that visiting a loved one from a distance can be challenging. Here are some tips to help make your visit more enjoyable and meaningful:

Keep in touch with regular phone calls.
Utilize platforms like FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype for virtual visits. And if you're on vacation, do a Zoom call to show your loved one interesting sights.
Everyone loves receiving mail! Send letters or cards, and the team can assist with reading and responding if needed.
Email the recreation team to share messages with your loved one.
Use Amazon or other online ordering sites to send thoughtful care packages.
Record or live stream important events like graduations or weddings to share later if your loved one can’t attend.
Connect through Facebook, Instagram, or other social media platforms.
Find and play an online game together.
Use Uber Eats or other online ordering services to send a favourite food or dessert. Coordinate with the team beforehand to ensure it fits your loved one's diet and staff can assist as needed.
Reach out to the Director of Recreation Programs (DRP) to discuss ideas and support to meet you and your loved one's needs.

Here are some resources to help make the most of your visits from afar:

Famileo: an app that creates a monthly personalised newspaper that is sent directly to your loved one
Skylight Frame: a touchscreen digital picture frame that allows you to share photos with your loved ones almost instantly – from anywhere in the world

Engaging In Our Community

Check out the programs calendar and participate in a program together.
Enjoy a meal together with your loved one.
Bring some food to share or ask about cooking a meal together in the kitchenette.
Introduce yourself to other residents and facilitate connections for your loved one to foster new relationships.
Access the Guest Wi-Fi during your visit so you can do things like browse family photos on Facebook, FaceTime others, or take a look at the additional resources on the Sienna Family Resources page.

Here are a few additional resources to help you with transitioning your loved one to long-term care.