Creating Purposeful Visits: Enhancing Time with Your Aging Loved One
Led by Melissa Long, a Certified Recreational Therapist and Certified Dementia Practitioner, this session will explore how to approach visits with intention—focusing on connection, communication, and shared moments that support emotional well-being. Attendees will gain insight into how simple activities, conversation techniques, and thoughtful planning can enhance visits and strengthen relationships over time.
Spending time with an aging loved one can be deeply meaningful, yet many family members find themselves unsure of how to make each visit engaging, comfortable, and truly fulfilling. This educational program is designed to provide practical guidance and thoughtful strategies to help families create purposeful, positive experiences during their time together.
Whether you are new to supporting an aging loved one or looking to deepen your understanding, this program offers valuable tools, expert insight, and an opportunity to connect with others navigating similar experiences. Guests are encouraged to ask questions and leave with practical takeaways that can help transform everyday visits into meaningful moments.
For questions, please email Bianca Sauro, Community Relations Associate, at bsauro@kensingtonsl.com.
- Sub-Headline With Melissa Long, Certified Recreational Therapist & Certified Dementia Practitioner
Speaker
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Melissa LongCertified Dementia PractitionerMelissa is a Certified Recreational Therapist and Certified Dementia Practitioner with over 20 years of experience providing goal-oriented therapy to individuals with multiple diagnoses. She delivers highly individualized services based on each person’s past, present, and future interests and lifestyle, customizing treatment plans that address social, cognitive, physical, and leisure needs. Her approach promotes healthy living to improve function, enhance independence, and encourage meaningful engagement in all aspects of life.
Melissa has presented at numerous conferences, published evidence-based practice programs, and authored professional articles, including “Tips to Consider: The Geriatric Recreation Therapist’s Role in Disaster Preparedness”, emphasizing the vital role recreation therapists play in safeguarding long-term care residents during crises.
Her diverse background includes living in Romania, where she provided sensory integration therapy for orphans, and serving as Social Coordinator for the Cerebral Palsy – International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) World Championship. Through both clinical practice and community engagement, Melissa is known for her innovative, out-of-the-box thinking and her dedication to supporting clients and caregivers every day.