Can Kids Visit a Grandparent in Memory Care?
Are you wondering if your kids can visit their grandparents who are living in a memory care community in Phoenix? Just because someone has moved into a memory care community doesn’t mean that things need to change drastically. They’re still your beloved parent and your kids’ grandparent, and they deserve visits from their loved ones!
Visiting a grandparent in memory care is also a great idea because it’s good for the resident. By seeing their family, they are reminded that they are loved, cared for, and not alone. Children also tend to bring a smile to the faces of seniors, and when it’s their own grandchild, the smiles are even bigger. It’s mood boosting for everyone, including the kids!
We understand that it may seem like a difficult task to bring kids to a memory care community. Here at BridgeWater Assisted Living, we offer memory care and know a thing or two about it. To help ease your mind, here are some tips for bringing children to visit grandparents living in a memory care community with dementia:
Talk to Your Kids About Memory Loss
Depending on how old your kids are, they may not know or understand what memory loss entails. Kids are people too, so you should talk with your kids about memory loss to help explain why their grandparent may be reacting or behaving in a way that’s different from how they used to act. Explain to your kids that even though their grandparent is suffering from memory loss and may not remember things, they still love them very much.
Tell the Staff You’re Bringing Your Kids
It’s a great idea to let the staff at the memory care in Phoenix when you’re planning to bring your kids. They’re the ones working with your parent and can help prepare them for the visit as well. Additionally, the staff is trained for things like this, and they can make the visit as meaningful and comfortable as possible. This includes working with you to find the best space to have the visit or if any activities are happening that they can do together. The staff also knows if your parent is more alert at a certain time of day and can help you schedule the visit based on that.
Let Your Kids Help
During the visit, let your kids help with their grandparent as much as they can. This will make them feel more comfortable. For instance, have your kids get their grandparent a glass of water or help to reach something. Another great idea is if your kids are of reading age, have them read a book to your parent. It’ll make your kids feel like they’re helping their grandparent and can help keep the bond between them strong. Just be sure not to leave your kids alone with their grandparent, as that can result in a stressful situation.
As you can see, not only can kids visit a grandparent in memory care, but there are a lot of positives to it, too! If you are bringing your kids to visit a grandparent here at BridgeWater, we encourage you to connect with our staff and let them know. They will do everything they can to make the visit go great!