No memory of Nursing Home Visitors? Keep a Calendar or Guestbook

Mom has no Memory of Nursing Home Visitors

Once Mom entered the Group Home, my brothers and I often took turns signing her out for an afternoon visit and lunch outside the confines of the nursing home.

While she still had her physical health, Mom loved strolling through the shopping mall and visiting the food court. Since my brother was a bachelor, Mom found no limit to the need for her presence at his home.

If you can offer your loved one a small respite from their confinement in a nursing home occasionally, they are more willing to return. It does become  “home” to them, eventually.

In the beginning we had problems tracking Mom’s visitors and activities; family, friends, previous neighbors, plus daily outings, and doctor’s appointments. When asked, Mom would say no one ever came to see her and she never had a doctor’s appointment.

Relying on Mom for information

==> out of the question<==

We finally posted a large calendar (with plenty of writing space in large blocks) near the door. I thought it would reassure Mom as well, to see that people actually visited, as they signed-in when they arrived. The Calendar was a great success for my brothers and me but Mom never remembered its existence and eventually could not understand how to read it.

Once when Mom complained repeatedly that my brother hadn’t visited in months and months, I showed her the calendar where he had clearly signed-in on the 6th day of March, the previous week.

Without missing a beat Mom said, “I know. I see that. He was here the 6th. But golly, the 6th, that was–” She stopped to count on her fingers. …”the 6th month is June–and this is December. He hasn’t been here for 6 months!” Actually it was March and my brother had visited on the 6th of March.

==> Oh my goodness! <==

I felt like I was turning in circles with my head spinning! Yikes

Believe me when I tell you –You will need a Calendar–

==> A really BIG Calendar<==

…preferably,  a Dry Erase Calendar

Here are a few Calendars That are as much fun as they are Helpful!

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Quartet Home Décor Magnetic Combination Calendar BoardMore infoMelissa & Doug Deluxe Magnetic CalendarMore infoOrange Circle StudioMore infoMotherword Magnetic Family Org CalendarMore info

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 AT-A-GLANCE Monthly Laminated Jumbo Wall Calendar Memory Loss Digital Expo 2 Low-Odor Dry Erase Vera Bradley Agenda Lilli Bell bloom daily planners Vera Bradley Agenda Lilly Pulitzer Agenda

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