The Oregon Caregiver FALL/WINTER 2024 www.ohca.com 6 FEATURE RECREATION WITH INTENTION: MINDFULNESS & WELLNESS IN LONG TERM CARE By Maggie Walter, Oregon Health Care Association “We embrace a really holistic approach to well-being that not only focuses on just the physical and mental aspects of it, but the eight different dimensions of wellness: emotional, vocational, spiritual, environmental, physical, social, intellectual, and financial.” – Lilly Hillyer, The Springs at Happy Valley The idea of ‘well-being’ extends beyond just physical health. Of course, a resident’s physical state is a paramount concern, but how are long term care professionals ensuring that their care is well-rounded, holistic, and providing stimulation for their residents? Incorporating activities that revolve around the concept of residents’ mindfulness and wellness is a growing trend in long term care. Studies have shown that these activities improve a resident’s mental health and also their physical state. In this article, we interviewed two care providers who are making mindfulness and wellness an integral facet of their life enrichment programming to see how these activities impact the residents, as well as the staff who are facilitating them. When a resident enters long term care, at the forefront of their family’s mind is their well-being. Will the transition go smoothly? Will their loved one receive the care that they need? Will they be happy? These concerns are also top of mind for those working within these communities.
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