The weather’s nice

It can be really tricky visiting someone who may be in the same environment day in day out.  Like a care home or their own home if they don’t go out much.

I sometime struggle to know what to say, what to talk about and this can impact on the frequency of my visits. 

I have asked other visitors what they talk about and here are some suggestions;

• Bring in a paper or magazine and talk around the articles in them.

• Bring in different photographs of familiar places or people and talk around them.

• Bring some cards or dominoes and have a game.

• Bring some food to share together.

• Bring in your pet to show them.

• Create a small quiz and discuss the answers.

• Bring a ball and a target or skittles and have a game.

• Don’t feel like you have to do anything just come and sit with your person- maybe hold their hand.  This can be really powerful.

• Bring in an agony aunt question and answer it together.

• Ask their opinion on a problem you are trying to solve.

Just know that people you are visiting generally appreciate your visit, when I talk to residents that are in care homes they often say things like ‘I count down the hours till they visit again’ and ‘That’s what I live for, for them to visit’.   

Staff always say that it can be hugely important that visitors come.  Even though they may not remember your visit or be able to say exactly who they are, the feeling of a positive visit will last for hours after you have gone.

Just know that you are making a difference, even if today it isn’t for the person you are visiting, it might be for another resident or for other members of your family.