- Introduction
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Prevention
-
Caregiving
- Coping with Emotional Changes
- Coping with Memory Loss
- Costs and Insurance
- Creating a Daily Routine
- Exercise
- Health and Wellbeing of the Caregiver
- Home Safety Adjustments
- Mental Exercises
- Respite Care
- Talking to Children about Alzheimer's
- Talking to Friends about Alzheimer's
- Telling Someone They Have Alzheimer's
- Transition to Assisted Living
- Transition to Nursing Home
- Work
- Related Conditions
- Resources
Q: is it ok to take an alzheimers patient out of assisted living on weekends.
Absolutely. The only negative, ulness there are other health issues, would be if the person with Alzheimer's gets to the point where he or she is overly agitated or disoriented by the outings. As long as the person enjoys the time out, it should be good for everyone. Just be aware of his or her mood and try not to over excite.
Take care,
Carol
If the person is in AL, then for sure it is OK to go home for the weekend to see the family. Just make sure you follow the same routine in the AL such as bathing or washing and eating/sleeping.
You can even bring the person home if he is in the memory care unit/locked unit. It depends on the cognition level. If the person knows the family and enjoys the activities, it is always OK to bring them home or even travel with him.
When the person is in severe stage and can no longer understand the speech and surroundings and cannot walk, then it is wiser to leave him in the home so there is no confusion. My father-in-law can no longer go back to see his folks in a private home.
Regards,
NC
Generally speaking, outings away from the facility can be a positive, enjoyable experience for the individual with Alzheimer's disease; however, there are a some things to keep in mind when planning such an activity that can help make things go more smoothly. First and foremost, be flexible with your plans. Assess your loved one the day of and gauge mood and energy level. If he or she seems to be in an agitated or anxious state for any reason, it might be better to postpone your plans for another time. Further, during the outing, watch for any signs that the individual is tired, stressed, or uncomfortable for any reason, which may signal that it is time to get him or her back home to the facility. Keep the outing short and simple, being mindful of stimulation levels (avoid too many people, too much noise, etc.). Be sure that your loved one is wearing or carrying some sort of identification. New or unfamiliar surroundings may increase confusion and disorientation, so be sure that someone is with the individual with Alzheimer's disease at all times. Lastly, remain calm and patient, and take things slow. Your loved one will likely enjoy the time together regardless of where you are!
Hi, gi,
I agree with what everyone is said. I'd also add that, depending on the patient, you also need to think ahead about how to get them back to the assisted living facility. I say that based on my experiences with my mom, who definitely did not want to be in a nursing home. I always worried that if I took her out alone, she would throw a tantrum as we headed back. Plus she had to use oxygen 24/7, which added another obstacle to taking her out of the facility.
Our family ended up taking her out of the facility only twice - to my home for Thanksgiving and Christmas - the first year that she was placed. Our plan was that my brother and his daughter (both of whom lived out of town) would serve as chauffers that night, which worked out really well because she didn't associate them with the nursing home.
With that said, I have many friends who take their loved ones who have Alzheimer's on different "field trips" out of the facility and they don't have problems. So base your decision on your loved one's status, his or her temperament, and your ability to help them navigate an increasingly confusing environment.
Take care and keep us posted!
Dorian
It's an excellent idea to take an alzheimers patient out of assisted living on weekends if he/she is compliant and you are familiar enough to know how to handle the person. Also, it is best when the environment into which you are taking this person is one which does not overly excite him/her. You, being responsible to this person, must be ready for others possibly staring at you. I'm not saying it's right, just that some people do NOT understand Alzheimers/dementia. I once saw a family come into a restaurant. One member of the family, an adult woman, carried and caressed a doll. Some people in the restaurant looked at them in disgust. I personally thought each to his own...live and let live...who was she hurting? I applaud the family for caring enough to take their loved one out to eat! Hope I've made some sense and possibly helped! Leah
It's an excellent idea to take an alzheimers patient out of assisted living on weekends if he/she is compliant and you are familiar enough to know how to handle the person. Also, it is best when the environment into which you are taking this person is one which does not overly excite him/her. You, being responsible to this person, must be ready for others possibly staring at you. I'm not saying it's right, just that some people do NOT understand Alzheimers/dementia. I once saw a family come into a restaurant. One member of the family, an adult woman, carried and caressed a doll. Some people in the restaurant looked at them in disgust. I personally thought each to his own...live and let live...who was she hurting? I applaud the family for caring enough to take their loved one out to eat! Hope I've made some sense and possibly helped! Leah
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