Tips for Visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Assisted Living

Visiting assisted living residents can be a fun and interesting experience. While parents may see the situation as difficult, most children will associate the visit with seeing Grandma or Grandpa in their new apartment. If the time a child gets to spend with their grandparent in assisted living is somewhat limited, use these tips:

Check the Rules First

Most assisted living facilities don’t have a lot of restrictions when it comes to visits other than hours.

Some may limit children and teens to certain areas of the property, such as the patient’s room, recreational area, and gardens. Check ahead of time to avoid an awkward confrontation.

Attend a Scheduled Activity

If Grandma or Grandpa has a favorite activity, they shouldn’t have to choose between it and a family visit. Instead, make Bingo or cards a family event. Preplanned activities are a fantastic way to teach a child a new game and encourage them to take a more interest in their grandparent’s lives. Most facilities in assisted living villanova special activities during visiting hours for this very reason.

Bring a Movie

Children can get bored easily, and the last thing a grandparent with limited visiting hours wants to hear is “I’m bored.” Bring a new movie as a backup in case activities get cancelled or kids seem restless. 

Choosing a new movie that the children and grandparents both haven’t seen will encourage them to watch together and discuss. The grandparent won’t feel like they are losing time with their grandchild and the child will feel like they got to do more in a day.

Start a Scrapbook or Other Project

Scrapbooking is a favorite hobby among assisted living residents. It is a great way to relive old memories and create something that can be passed down from generation to generation. Having a child contribute to a grandparent’s scrapbooking efforts can be a wonderful way to encourage bonding. Try bringing new supplies or additional photos each visit to encourage work a little at a time.

Encourage “Normal” Behavior

While a lot of grandparents in assisted living facilities have physical or mental restrictions, they want to be treated like anyone else. Don’t treat the visit like a hospital visit. Instead, treat it like a visit to Grandma or Grandpa’s house.

This will encourage the children to do the same, helping everyone feel more relaxed. Grandma or Grandpa will also appreciate not feeling like they’re sick, being asked how they are every few minutes, or talked down to.

Grandparents love spending time with their families, even if they are in an assisted living facility in Villanova. This precious time can be a great experience when guests are well-prepared.