Visiting tips with elderly friends and family members.

Jeff and I have four parents, living in four different residences. His parents are 89 years old; mine are 93. Grandma lives a high-quality, independent life.  Our dads deal with Alzheimer’s or Lewy Body Dementia. My mom’s diagnosis read: “Failure to thrive; prognosis: Poor.” One year later, she’s still here. Should it be called, “Undecided thriving…?”

In any case, quality visits call for creative approaches.

Talking is exhausting                                                                                                                             

 Mom’s hearing aids don’t help much, causing us all conversation fatigue!
Use brief sentences.
Make eye contact.

TraveLaundry:

Staff and residents are used to me bringing baskets of clean, unfolded laundry
Buy additional socks, separate, toss in and pretend they’re clean laundry. You probably need some new socks anyway.

Activity-time visits:

Allows for communication (with others tablemates, too.)

Bring treats

Just be there.

Mom’s not curious about our lives anymore; Dad doesn’t know us.

 

Good luck & Good visiting!

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