Loneliness Interventions?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2011

Encourage patient on senior activities, get them some information on them. That way they can meet some friends and interact with others. Different from a support group. Like "fun" activities.

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2011

"Cedexa" is Celexa, an anti-depressant. I got nothin' on the other med.

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2011

Oh, just another thought; your professor may have underlined that part because helping keep her busy is not necessarily addressing the problem of loneliness. You can be busy and still feel lonely.

I always found it best to be specific with care plans: instead of saying "help the patient stay busy," you need to assess the patient's likes/dislikes/feelings and then provide an intervention like "provide art supplies for patient to express her emotions" if she tells you that painting helps her express herself. (That's a lame example; I just made it up for reference).

Interventions specific to the patient are what makes a care plan useful; they shouldn't be interchangeable for different patients. Hope this helps a little :)

FairyPopsicle · Apr 10, 2011

@ Mi Vida Loca: Ah, senior activities! Thanks!

Hmmm... I found a Recreation Department in her area. It seems more like a community resource, though.

But yeah, I'm going to put this in! :]

@ Always_Learning: Oh, wow, thanks! Exactly what I needed!

FairyPopsicle · Apr 10, 2011

Always_Learning said:
I always found it best to be specific with care plans: instead of saying "help the patient stay busy," you need to assess the patient's likes/dislikes/feelings and then provide an intervention like "provide art supplies for patient to express her emotions" if she tells you that painting helps her express herself. (That's a lame example; I just made it up for reference).
Interventions specific to the patient are what makes a care plan useful; they shouldn't be interchangeable for different patients. Hope this helps a little ?

Oh! Patient specific! That's right!

Thanks for the reminder! I can't believe I forgot that. That opens up a whole road of possibilities. I guess my anxiety isn't letting me think straight.

I can put in "Assess for the patient's likes/dislikes regarding activities" (.. there has to be a better way to word that...) but I won't be able to follow through with the intervention because we get a new patient every week, which means I don't know what she would've liked... :[ But I think that if I put into the care plan about what I WOULD do if I could ask the patient, it might be fine, right?

FairyPopsicle · Apr 10, 2011

I just read an intervention about "providing the patient with a roommate that shares similar interests."

Is that possible? To move your patient into a room with a person who is more talkative? :confused:

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Apr 10, 2011

I was looking through threads and found this one.

my experience has mostly been in assisted living and snf, and every facility I worked at would allow roommates in the appropriate room. some were single rooms, but we were predominantly double rooms.

we put 2 ladies together who liked to knit, they both did have dementia, but they had a blast together. they made a huge blanket together, it was fun to watch.

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2011

I absolutely think that would be a fine intervention, because you are writing a care plan based on what you would do if you were the nurse caring for that patient.

Also, it may definitely be possible to re-arrange rooms if she finds someone who has interests in common or she gets along with (depending on available rooms, Medicare guidelines for what rooms they pay for, etc. etc.) But it's definitely something that could be brought up at an interdisciplinary team meeting (with social workers, administration, etc.)

Sounds like you're on the right track. :)