My 85 year old mother suffers with vascular dementia. She is currently in a small group assisted living due to a broken hip. She doesn't want to interact with the other residents who are mostly Alzheimer residents, so she sits in her room and watches TV. When I visit, we don't have much to talk about. I was wondering if I brought old photos and asked her about them if it would just make her more sad that she is where she is? I'd like to hear others' experiences. This forum has been so helpful to me - the "Newbie"
I do keep a "wall" of photos of the grandkids and great grands for her to show off to visitors. She doesn't want to see the "actual" child, but she does like to show off the progeny.
I know when I see pictures of myself when I was young and skinny, I get pretty depressed. There are days, definitely when an old photo does not spark one iota of joy.
Everyone is different. I could entertain either of my grandmothers for hours with two or three photos and listen to their stories. Mother is a different bird.