How To Show Appreciation To Nursing Home Staff

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During November, senior living communities across the country will celebrate Caregiver Appreciation Month. I hope today’s article prompts us to make a habit of showing appreciation for a loved one’s caregivers, not only during November but throughout the entire year.

Words of thanks

Because of social distancing, verbalizing thanks to a loved one’s caregivers becomes more difficult. We might only communicate with staff through brief phone calls or video visits. This makes it harder to get to know the caregivers and form relationships with them.

That’s why I hope you’ll look for opportunities to express your thanks every time you interact with staff. Those simple words of appreciation can make someone’s day.

Hand-written notes

When you take the time to write a note of thanks, it can mean the world to a caregiver. A note becomes especially welcome because it’s something tangible they can save.

Many years ago, a resident’s daughter gave me a card containing a beautiful note of thanks after her mom passed away. I carried that card in my planner for several years. Many times, I pulled out the note and re-read it on challenging days.

Gifts

Most nursing homes don’t allow individual employees to accept gifts from residents or their families. So please double-check with the administration before offering a gift. If they give you the go-ahead, you can find lots of ideas on Amazon.

Another option might be to offer to give a donation to the caregiver’s favorite charity in their honor. Or, you could give a group gift to a department or a shift at the nursing home.

Food

I don’t know of any nursing home that doesn’t appreciate food as a thank-you gift. Options include cookies, candy, granola bars, fruit, or mini-muffins. Because of coronavirus, many people become leery of eating homemade treats. So it’s a good idea to have something delivered from a store.

Depending on how much you would like to spend, you could also thank caregivers with something more substantial, like sub sandwiches or pizza. Check with the administration to find out the best day and times to treat the staff in case they already have something special planned.

One thing to keep in mind is the varying shifts at a nursing home. I know from working night shifts for three years that if you bring a food treat in the afternoon, it will probably be long gone before the night shift arrives. So, it’s a nice touch to divide your treat among the shifts.

Social media

During the pandemic, we see accolades to EMTs, physicians, and ICU nurses. Yet nursing homes often face criticism and suspicion. I find this so sad because, in my experience, the vast majority of nursing home employees are compassionate, dedicated, hard-working people who truly care about their residents.

That’s why I hope you’ll look for opportunities to express thanks to the nursing home staff on social media. Your public affirmation helps caregivers feel better about their work and motivates them to continue serving elders despite the pandemic’s challenges.

Note or call to the supervisor

If you would like to thank a specific caregiver or department, consider calling or writing a note to the administrator or the department supervisor. This works especially well if your loved one expresses appreciation for individual employees, but you don’t get an opportunity to meet them.

Besides the thrill of hearing your compliment from their boss, you’ll also brighten the day for the supervisor. They usually receive calls when someone has a concern or a complaint, so they’ll treasure your positive words.

How do you show appreciation for the nursing home staff? Please share your suggestions in the comment section!