Yesterday was an exciting day. For the first time since we moved mom to the new nursing home in August she had visitors that weren’t me, my brother or my sister-in-law. Or weren’t the numerous family members and friends of other residents that my not-very-shy mother has come to endear herself to. My mom’s friends from home, Paula and Debbie, made the trip to visit. Before they went I sent them the following note to help them prepare and to provide some ideas for what to do when they got there:

So excited to hear how the day goes. I had one of the best days I’ve had with her in months yesterday. She’s doing really well. She will be slow to get started. Just tell her your names a couple of times. I told her you were coming. She said she remembered you and we looked at pictures yesterday.

You’ll figure it out. She gets excited and just repeats the same word over and over and over. Just tell her to relax and calm down. She will. Lots and lots of hand holding. She likes to walk holding your hand. And lots of hugs. She’s a great hug giver these days.

They had a great visit. I got a phone call just from Paula and Debbie just after they left mom and they were so happy to have gotten to spend some time with her. And from all accounts mom had a great time to.

Got this note afterward along with the pictures below:

We had a great visit. I think Kathy enjoyed it more than her face indicates. We talked, reminisced, worked puzzles, sang, brushed her hair, walked throughout her wing, watched TV. I so wish she was closer so I could visit more often.

We polka dotted her nails. 🙂 How do you like the new shades? She wouldn’t take them off.