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In my absence of a few months at a time, my mom's psychologist recommended I write some letters and leave for her at the nursing home. He suggested I put the dates on a schedule to be given to her. I'm struggling with what to write? Ideas?
Oh, my 'out of state' sister used to do this for our Mom. She would make cards from construction paper. And she would tape a photo of the two of them to the inside. Since your Mom has memory issues, her ability to focus is probably compromised. It is more about letting Mom know you love her than the actual message. September means back to school, do you have a favorite school story? Ditto for Halloween, Thanksgiving, December holidays, vacations, etc. Keep it short. Tell her you love her. A sentence or two about a shared activity -- baking cookies, scouts, sports whatever. Then you can put a picture from a magazine/internet of that thing. A platter of cookies, trick or treaters, a beach, etc. Keep it simple, it is more the excitement of having something to hold and look over. If the team at her memory care does their job, she will be shown the card/letter over and over --- and it will be new EACH time to her.
You won't be able to send her post cards, or emails that the NH could print off for her? Goodness! I don't like to ask where you're off to (could it be that you could tell me but then you'd have to kill me..?)
Critical responses do not help anyone. Any associations with her life - pets, hobbies (dancing, cooking, gardening, chess, sewing, horse races (!) ) - cut out pictures in magazines and put in a card and write something about it. Anything to associate with what she loves. Even a I LOVE YOU might be enough. I'd keep the cards simple. Date them (add the day of the week too as so many forget 'what day it is'.
buy a box of cards with photos that she will find pleasing with blank inside. Or make your own or you can buy ones for your printer. Then write a letter about a subject that taps into her long term memory, e.g. family vacations, going out to eat, etc. Be sure to enclose a photo of yourself or your family. Then she can look at it independently of the card and show it to others more easily than a card. If she has someone to take her out of her facility, then you could send a small gift card for a restaurant or store she likes to visit. If it all possible, have a backup visitor scheduled before you go.
I don't think that I would necessarily write a letter. Depending on what her mind is capable of, I think a simple photo "scrapbook" type of thing would be good...a picture of a heart for Valentine's Day, shamrock-St. Patrick's Day, etc. Put a big "I LOVE YOU, MOM" on each. Even draw pictures of animals, whatever you know she likes.
I would suggest buying greeting cards in a package of several cards. Take pictures of family members and keep the letter part shorter. I would creat a template on the computer and add information about what you did that week or what people are doing in the pictures. This way it's a simple system that won't take you hours but make her feel special. Write a special note on the card but make your letter a standard template with information about your day to day life.
Just write to her the things you plan to do while traveling, places you may plan to visit, restaurants that may have been recommended to you. Write several approaching a new topic every day. Your letters need not be long, the idea being that in hearing, or reading what you have written will give her a loving connection to you. Silver Threads
Before Mom was put on a Seroquel generic for anxiety and agitation, I used to leave her a simple note when I went out and a nurse's aide came to stay. The note said I'd gone out, where and when I'd be back. I attached it to the fridge door with a magnet and the aide would show it to Mom whenever she expressed concern.
The aides told me this was effective in calming Mom down. However, as the dementia progressed, nothing worked and we had to resort to medications. I put it off as long as possible but finally gave in when Mom's quality of life obviously was suffering. (Mine too.)
Blessings for an effective solution to your challenge.
Yes, for residents of a NH especially Moms , letters that speak of happy childhood memories, the favorite pies cakes she baked, things you couldn't find and she helped you look for them, trips you took, it goes on and on. Silver Threads
Years ago as a young adult, I wrote letters to both of my grandmothers thanking them for the love and the memories that I had growing up with them, things like bird watching, one taught me to knit and to bake, or the card games we played, the books that they read to me. . . and I heard from family that they were really touched by them, and saved the letters. So I think If you just thank her for some happy times in your life, she might be able to remember those. My mom can't remember what she ate 5 minutes after eating it, but she does remember a lot of fun stuff from my childhood.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
September means back to school, do you have a favorite school story? Ditto for Halloween, Thanksgiving, December holidays, vacations, etc. Keep it short. Tell her you love her. A sentence or two about a shared activity -- baking cookies, scouts, sports whatever. Then you can put a picture from a magazine/internet of that thing. A platter of cookies, trick or treaters, a beach, etc.
Keep it simple, it is more the excitement of having something to hold and look over. If the team at her memory care does their job, she will be shown the card/letter over and over --- and it will be new EACH time to her.
Any associations with her life - pets, hobbies (dancing, cooking, gardening, chess, sewing, horse races (!) ) - cut out pictures in magazines and put in a card and write something about it. Anything to associate with what she loves. Even a I LOVE YOU might be enough. I'd keep the cards simple. Date them (add the day of the week too as so many forget 'what day it is'.
Be sure to enclose a photo of yourself or your family. Then she can look at it independently of the card and show it to others more easily than a card.
If she has someone to take her out of her facility, then you could send a small gift card for a restaurant or store she likes to visit.
If it all possible, have a backup visitor scheduled before you go.
The aides told me this was effective in calming Mom down. However, as the dementia progressed, nothing worked and we had to resort to medications. I put it off as long as possible but finally gave in when Mom's quality of life obviously was suffering. (Mine too.)
Blessings for an effective solution to your challenge.
So I think If you just thank her for some happy times in your life, she might be able to remember those. My mom can't remember what she ate 5 minutes after eating it, but she does remember a lot of fun stuff from my childhood.
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