Why it happens
Residents often describe loss as the hardest part: of home, routines, friends who’ve passed away, and family who live far away or are busy with work and kids. Days in care can have long quiet stretches between meals and activities.
What helps
- Regular contact, even brief. Frequent small moments beat occasional big ones.
- Things to look forward to: a Sunday visit, a weekly call, news from the grandkids.
- Staying part of family life: hearing about the ordinary things, not only the big events.
- Familiar faces and places: photos of people and places they love.
- Meaningful activity: hobbies, visitors, and the rest home’s activities programme.
How Resthome TV fits in
It fills the gaps between visits. The whole family, including people who live overseas, can send photos, videos and messages that play on the TV in the room with a soft chime and the sender’s name. There’s nothing for the resident to learn. It isn’t a replacement for visits, but it can mean hearing from family every day instead of every few weeks.
Where to find support
If you’re worried about a family member’s wellbeing, talk to the rest home’s care team first. Age Concern New Zealand runs visiting services in many areas, and Loneliness NZ has information and research about loneliness in older people.