How can I prepare for social visits?

Preparing for visits from friends and family requires thoughtful planning, to make sure it’s a positive experience for everyone. Here's a guide on how you can best prepare for these visits:

Assess comfort and preferences

• Before scheduling visits, have an open and honest conversation with your loved one about their comfort level and preferences when it comes to visitors.
• Talk about the length of visits, the number of visitors at once, and any specific needs they may have during these social interactions.

Set clear expectations with visitors

• Communicate openly with your friends and family about your loved one’s condition and needs. Let them know that their energy levels may fluctuate or they may have moments of fatigue or pain.
• Explain that your loved one’s comfort is the number one priority, and that you appreciate their understanding.

Schedule visits thoughtfully

• Coordinate visits based on your loved one’s energy levels and the times of day when they feel more alert and comfortable.
• Space out visits to prevent overwhelming or causing excessive fatigue, especially if there has been visits by healthcare providers on the same day.

Provide information in advance

• If your visitors have limited information, reach out to them ahead of time and tell them more about your loved one’s condition and needs, to help them mentally prepare and adjust their expectations.
• Let them know if there is anything they should be mindful of, like not wearing strong scents.

Limit group sizes

• Large groups may be overwhelming and tiring for your loved one, so consider limiting the number of visitors to 1-2 to create a more intimate environment.

Create a comfortable setting

• If your loved one wants to receive visitors in a different room, set up cushions and supports to help them stay comfortable.

Encourage meaningful interactions

• Encourage visitors to have meaningful conversations and interactions. Like talking about their favorite memories, or playing games they usually played.
• Remind them to listen attentively and follow your loved one’s cues.

Offer practical support

• Most visitors will offer help, or say something like “Let me know how I can help”. Suggest things you actually need help with. Like preparing and bringing a specific meal, picking something up on their way, or helping you with household chores while they’re there.

Respect privacy and emotional space

• It's important to respect your loved one’s emotional space. Let them know that it's okay to take breaks if needed, or end a social visit early.

Take time for yourself

• If your loved one feels comfortable with their visitor, that’s your cue to take some personal time. You can even try to coordinate these visits to overlap with when you’d like to take a break.
• Take this time to recharge and do something that brings you joy and relaxation. It could be reading a book, going for a walk, meeting friends for coffee, or taking a nap.