Follow
Share

My aunt is a resident in a nursing home. She’s always asking to go home. I want to let her visit her house but I am afraid once she is home, she will refuse to return to the nursing home.

Find Care & Housing
No, you should not do this. You should let the aunt know that this is now her home and that won't change. To do this would be very upsetting and confusing.
Helpful Answer (6)
Reply to AlvaDeer
Report

I want to go home.
I was happy there
Where things were familiar
And people cared.
💙
Helpful Answer (6)
Reply to Beatty
Report

What is your Aunt really asking?

Is it a literal request to merely visit her old home for an hour or two?
(A dusty empty building? Or maybe one changed by it's new tennants).

Or is she asking for something else?

To go back in time, to a place, a feeling of security & familiarity?
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to Beatty
Report
Anephew May 11, 2024
Her request starts off as wanting to see her house then it trails on to her long term plans of living in her house. I’m sure she is also looking for “home” - the sense of self, independence, autonomy, and security. I can only visit once a month because I live in another state but it seems every time I visit, she gets hopeful that I will bring her home.
(3)
Report
No. Would make things 100x worse for her. Don’t do it!
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to LoopyLoo
Report

Absolutely not. Change the subject when she asks.
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to Fawnby
Report

No, you do not take her home. One reason is "home" is not always the last place they lived. For my Aunt it was the house she grew up in. She was back into her childhood.

How long has Aunt been in the NH?
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to JoAnn29
Report
Bunnymomjulie May 16, 2024
My mom thinks she is back in her hometown when she was young. She doesn't even remember her cats. But she always wants to go "home".
(0)
Report
I don’t think your mother wants to visit her house -she wants to return to it
in such a case I feel it may be counter productive to her health to visit.
she wants to go home not reminiscent
when she’s accepted living maybe a rethink but presently I’d say not a great idea
reminiscencing is normal in other circumstances tho-I once had an elderly gentleman knock on my door and explain he used to live there many years ago and was there anyway he could see the garden
I was in the house alone not greatest of ideas to agree’ but he turned out honest and all he wanted to do was have a final look at his old life/garden. I can understand that. I often feel like I’d love to see the house I grew up in until 7 - I even in past googled to look at the road. It’s natural to want to but in your mothers case it’s longing fur her old life which can only cause pain
the past is gone.
Helpful Answer (3)
Reply to Jenny10
Report

She may be thinking about her childhood home. It may be best not to take her to her home, it might upset her.
Helpful Answer (3)
Reply to Isabelsdaughter
Report

No. This will cause confusion for her. Try to distract her with pleasant things she likes when she starts asking about home.

Remember “home” is more a feeling than a place. “Home” was one place when you were in grade school. “Home” was likely a different place when you were in High school. It was yet another place when you struck out on your own; maybe again if you got married and maybe yet another place when you had kids and so on.

Just try to distract her and be gentle and loving so she feels safe and loved like you do when you are at home (usually).
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to Donttestme
Report

In general I would say " no" unless there is a good reason. Sounds like there is no real need. so dont do it then! there wont be any benefit to that.

on the other hand, I'm not following my own advice. My dad is 1) bugging everyone to move back home and 2) bugging me to take him there once to pick out some clothes and things to bring to his AL. My intention was to do neither, I told him to think of things he wants me to bring back. He said he cant remember and would not know until he sees them.

Then, on point 1, he went calling around family members begging someone to arrange a system that he can go back home (I have said I dont approve and would not be part of any such plan). THen, I have been getting all sorts of phone calls from family. I "negotiated" that I'll take him there once to pick up some things, I'll agree to that, but that family must fully and firmly support him that there is no avenue to move back home, and no one give him false hope that they can set it up. I may regret this, but figure there cant be too much harm further from one visit..... If we go and he pulls something crazy like trying to stay there overnight, I'll call APS....
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to strugglinson
Report

See All Answers
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter