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How often do you visit your LO in Memory Care?

I am sure there is no routine or common visiting schedule. Someone recently asked me how often I visit my mom, and I told them about once a week. In reality, it is less than that. I guess I thought if I told them the honest truth, I would sound like a horrible person.

Truth be told, I could visit my mom every single day and would always see something that I could tend to even if small aspects such as folding and organizing clothes or replacing a light bulb in a bedside lamp.

Mom and dad moved to the AL section of the facility one year ago. Dad died four months later, and mom moved to MC. My goal in visiting is just to make sure she is being treated appropriately and staff know she has family checking on her. I actually have no legal accountability for her though because my sister took over as DPOA when dad died. So, she is responsible for all financial and medical aspects. Two years ago, my parents made her Executor of their Will and Trustee Successor. Literally, she is the single go-to.

I do not speak to my sister, so I have no idea how frequently she visits. I never see any signs of her having been at my mom's room because I see do not see any new photos of her family, no new clothes have been purchased, and old pictures that were hanging on the wall in the ALF section of her apartment with dad have been piled up in a corner in her room never placed on the wall. Mom's room is now rather sparce and sort of cold (not in temperature). A couple months ago, I noticed mom did not have any Depends, did not have any toothpaste, and her shower gel had been watered down to barely even being soapy. She also did not have a shower puff or washcloth in the shower to be able to appropriately bathe.

I did see adult diapers stacked in the bathroom, but mom asked me to please order her Depends instead because she likes them better. I was a bit concerned. I then asked to speak to the Memory Care Director about mom's needs for these ADLs, and told her to contact my sister who has access to the financials to be able to place these things on an Auto-Ship. The Director said she would. I recorded the discussion in case this becomes a case of neglect - but I do not think it is at this point.

I am just wondering how often does anyone visit, and what exactly do you do when you are there?

Thanks.

Comments

  • SusanB-dil
    SusanB-dil Member Posts: 1,392
    1000 Comments 250 Likes 100 Care Reactions Third Anniversary
    Member

    Hi TrumpetSwan - haven't seen you here in a bit and I hope you are doing well.

    With working full-time, and caring for MIL, I actually see my mom a bit rarely. Where mom has been moved to by brother, although lovely, is almost 3 hours drive for me. I am somewhat low-contact with brother, but I do know from some contact that he and SIL do watch out for her regularly. So... although not me, I know between them (and a niece), she gets family visit at least once or twice every week. He does keep me apprised once in a while.

  • Arrowhead
    Arrowhead Member Posts: 397
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    Member

    You really need to talk to your sister and find out what's going on. I suggest meeting her in your mother's room.

    I'm retired and my wife is only 3 miles away, so I see her about an hour every day. I touch her, talk to her, and watch TV with her.

    You are the only one who can determine how often to see your mother.

  • sandwichone123
    sandwichone123 Member Posts: 922
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    Soon after I placed my dh in AL, I visited him twice a week. As he became less able, I switched to once a week. If it were my parent I would visit less often. If my dad were to go to memory care, I would try to coordinate with my in-town relatives so someone is there every week, but not always me.

    When I go see my spouse, I sort the socks in his drawer and put aside the singles and those that are clearly not his. I am getting frustrated by this. I also look for his shoes, although I'm about to give up on the idea and just bring his sandals with me each week so we can walk around (the shoes on his feet today were about three sizes too big). I try to straighten up anything that needs it, as well. I try to go when there will be an exercise activity we can do together, or walk around outside, or call his mother. Today we just watched TV and it was terribly depressing.

  • H1235
    H1235 Member Posts: 819
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    My mom is in Al. I am her DPOA. I am 45 minutes away. I visit once a week. I visit just to visit, but I also bring supplies. I can’t always trust her to tell me what she needs and if I stock her up with too much she won’t be able to find it when she needs it. Depends also take up a lot of space. I’m not sure how I could go any less. How long I stay depends on her mood, usually an hour or less. I have a sibling and I think visits once a week, sometimes every other week. My mil had 5 kids one rarely visited the other 4 visited once every week or 2. As a daughter in-law I also visited once a week.

  • Quilting brings calm
    Quilting brings calm Member Posts: 2,748
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    I saw my parents in AL about once a week. Sometimes that visit was to take them to the doctor. That could take 3-5 hours. On other visits, usually I would collect their grocery list during the visit, go get groceries and return with them. I tried to keep the time spent in their apartment to an hour. I’d call every 2-3 days between visits. During each of their last few weeks, I increased my visits to every other day, and then every day. Those visits lasted longer when it became mom’s turn to ‘go’.

  • forbarbara
    forbarbara Member Posts: 199
    100 Care Reactions 100 Likes 100 Comments First Anniversary
    Member

    Whatever you can manage is enough. Really. Also ignore all the judgments of staff at the MC. Do what feels right for you.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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