Navigating the process of moving a parent to assisted living or memory care is complex and emotionally charged. However, once the move is complete, many family caregivers and adult children wonder how often they should visit.
Unfortunately, there is no universally correct answer. Consider your unique family arrangements, well-being, and personal commitments when creating a visiting schedule. Regular visits are vital to ensuring your parents’ happiness and health.
Why Regular Visits Are Important
Regular visits provide emotional, psychological, and physical benefits for your parents and yourself. Adjusting to senior living can be daunting for anyone. Seeing familiar faces helps ease that transition, fosters a sense of belonging, and reassures your parents that they’re still connected to their family.
Here are some key reasons why visiting your parents is crucial:
- Improving Emotional Well-Being: Visits can reduce feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety that many seniors experience. A loved one’s presence offers comfort and reassurance.
- Monitoring Their Care: Regular visits allow you to check in on the quality of care your parent is receiving. Are they comfortable? Are their needs being met? Your presence signals staff that an engaged family member is monitoring their well-being.
- Building Positive Relationships: Establishing strong bonds with nurses and caregivers can benefit all parties involved. A good rapport fosters trust between you, caregivers, and your parents.
Simply put, your presence matters. But you don’t need to overextend yourself to make a difference.
What Are the Benefits of Visiting Parents in Senior Living Communities?
Visiting your parent isn’t just beneficial for them—it can be good for you, too.
For Your Parent
- Rekindling Memories: Visits encourage conversations that spark nostalgic memories. This contributes to mental health and provides cognitive stimulation, especially if your parent has dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- Strengthening Connections: Spending quality time with your parents reinforces your family’s sense of connection, giving them something to look forward to.
For You
- Peace of Mind: Knowing firsthand how your parents are doing can alleviate your concerns about their well-being. You can assess their living conditions, diet, cleanliness, and overall health.
- Creating Lasting Memories: Every visit allows you to share heartfelt moments and create memories you will cherish forever.
While the benefits are undeniable, determining the frequency of visits can vary depending on your parent’s needs, family dynamics, and personal schedule.
Factors to Consider When Planning Visits
No two families are the same, and the “ideal” visiting schedule depends on several factors. Consider the following when planning your visits:
- Your Parent’s Personality and Needs: Does your parent enjoy social interaction, or are they more introverted? Some seniors thrive with frequent visits, while others might find them overwhelming.
- Their Health Condition: Senior parents requiring more medical or emotional support may benefit from more frequent check-ins.
- Your Schedule and Location: If you live far away and frequent visits aren’t feasible, focus on making quality visits during holidays or vacations. Long-distance family members can also alternate visits with siblings to share responsibilities.
- Frequency of Communication Outside Visits: If you talk to your parents frequently by phone, shorter, less frequent in-person visits may suffice, as you’ll still be staying actively involved in their lives.
Suggested Visiting Schedules
There’s no single answer to the question of how often you should visit parents, but here are some common suggestions for frequency based on family circumstances:
- Local Families: Aim to visit once a week or every other week. Shorter yet consistent visits are better than long but infrequent ones.
- Long-Distance Families: Plan visits every 1–3 months, focusing on quality during your time together. Coordinate your trips around events like birthdays or holidays.
- For Parents With Special Needs: If your parent has dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another condition requiring emotional reassurance, try to maintain weekly visits as often as possible.
Ultimately, the best schedule is one that works for you while keeping your parents’ happiness a priority.
Tips for Making Visits Meaningful
A successful visit isn’t about how much time you spend but how meaningful those moments are. Here’s how to ensure your time together counts:
- Play card games, listen to music, go for walks, or do another activity that they enjoy.
- Bring photos or memorabilia to reminisce together.
- Help them with activities they may find challenging, like organizing personal items.
- Ask about their day, health, and feelings. Sometimes, just listening can be the most valuable thing.
- Arrange group visits when possible. It’s an excellent way to strengthen family bonds.
What Not to Do During Your Visits
While visiting is important, there are a few practices to avoid to ensure you don’t unintentionally make your parent feel uncomfortable:
- Don’t Rush: Avoid cramming visits into a tight schedule and making it feel transactional.
- Don’t Overwhelm Them: Too many visitors at one time can cause fatigue for senior parents.
- Don’t Bring Negativity: Venting about personal problems or conflicts might stress them unnecessarily.
The key is making your visit uplifting, empathetic, and engaging.
Ways to Stay Connected Beyond Visits
Life can get busy, and there may be times when in-person visits aren’t possible. Here are some alternative ways to maintain a connection:
- Make Video Calls: Platforms like Facetime or Zoom allow you to share virtual face-to-face moments.
- Mail Letters or Photos: A handwritten letter or newly printed photos can brighten their day.
- Send Little Care Packages: Small gifts, snacks, or books can make them feel loved, even from a distance.
Staying connected reinforces that your parents are always on your mind, even when you’re not physically there.
Show Up for Them—Consistently & Meaningfully
Visiting your parents in their senior living community is about more than just showing up—it’s about being present in their life. Whether you live minutes or hours away, creating regular and meaningful moments together strengthens your bond and enhances your quality of life.
The Harpeth at Harmony Hills knows that the best frequency of visits is the one that works best for you to maintain consistently. Contact us today to see how we can help make your visits extra special.
