How Often Should You Visit Someone in Memory Care?

Date Updated: July 26, 2024

Written by:

Rachel Lustbader

Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.

Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers

You should aim to visit someone in memory care as frequently as your schedule allows, depending on how well your loved one has adjusted to their new living environment and whether your presence is soothing or unsettling. Of course, you should also consider a memory care facility’s visiting policies and any caregiver advice.

The same approach doesn’t work for everyone, so you’ll need to find what works best for you and your family member or friend. Typically, two or three weekly visits are ideal. In general, family involvement is beneficial for people with dementia, and studies suggest that frequent visits result in fewer psychological and behavioral symptoms.

How long should your visits last?

Most experts recommend frequent short visits instead of fewer ones that last longer. While shorter visits bring comfort, extended visits can cause confusion, tiredness and stress. Additionally, your loved one may not realize how long you’ve spent with them, so refocus your efforts as a care partner.

Your visits should assist in alleviating boredom, social isolation and loneliness, all of which can negatively impact overall cognitive function and quality of life. Furthermore, studies indicate that agitation is significantly reduced for a person with dementia during the first part of a visit but rises again after about 30 minutes. This suggests that visits shouldn’t last for more than 30 minutes.

How soon should you visit?

When an individual first moves into memory care, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to visiting. You know your loved one best. Take cues from their behavior as well as guidance from their caregivers. Check in with the staff via phone during the transition to a new living environment. They may ask for specific care preferences in order to learn about your loved one. Gradually increasing visitation frequency over time creates a predictable schedule that can bring comfort and reassurance to your loved one.

On the other hand, some people with dementia benefit from limited contact after first moving to a residential memory care facility. Seeing family and friends can cause agitation, emotional outbursts and homesickness, hindering a person’s ability to settle. In such a situation, a week or two is usually enough time for your loved one to adjust.

What can you do when visiting someone with dementia?

Quality visits are important for you and your loved one. Don’t overwhelm a memory care resident with too many visitors at once — just one or two people at a time is usually enough. Although sometimes they won’t recognize or remember you, you can still enjoy creating meaningful moments. Planning topics to discuss or activities to enjoy together is often helpful. Take familiar items or photos to guide conversations. Sensory stimulation, such as music, massage and painting, may soothe someone with dementia. If the facility allows, many memory care residents also enjoy visits from children or pets.