Folks, mum came to us for Christmas lunch, I agonised over it for weeks, she only went into the Care Home in August and was confused if I took her out. I was concerned that if I took her to our home for Christmas Lunch she would get confused and not want to go back or not know where she was going back to.
Well it has all worked a dream. I told her the day before that she would be coming to us, and that her grand-daughters would pick her up at 12 noon. I told the Care Home Staff as well. Hmm. Daughters arrived to find her in her nightie and dressing gown declaring it was time for bed. I am a bit cross that the Care Home Staff didn't get her ready to be going out, but my daughters did that, and brought her to us.
We had a lovely afternoon. Mum had a sherry (her favourite tipple) on arrival, and lunch was served soon after, and she ate well. We then had a cup of tea, which she enjoyed, and several times she said "isn't it nice to be with my family at Christmas" and I was so pleased that I had included her. That said, she was asleep for half the time, but who cares?
She then got worked up about what time she should get back to the Home, but to me I was reassured that she realised she was going back at all cos it had been a big concern of mine that she might not want to go back at all.
But it all worked well, the girls took her back, she told everyone about the lovely presents she had had, and it all went well.
So I am now thinking it is "safe" to invite her to our house now and again (we are only 7 miles away) for a cup of tea and a bun, which I have been scared to do before. She has been in the Care home for 4 months, and I wanted to get her used to it before I brought her to familiar places, but I now think I can do that. All in all, a very successful day, I am so pleased.
Any of you who are nervous about taking your relatives out of their usual environment, I hope this story will help.
Love to everyone who reads this. Hope you have enjoyed Christmas Day as I have.
Margaret
Well it has all worked a dream. I told her the day before that she would be coming to us, and that her grand-daughters would pick her up at 12 noon. I told the Care Home Staff as well. Hmm. Daughters arrived to find her in her nightie and dressing gown declaring it was time for bed. I am a bit cross that the Care Home Staff didn't get her ready to be going out, but my daughters did that, and brought her to us.
We had a lovely afternoon. Mum had a sherry (her favourite tipple) on arrival, and lunch was served soon after, and she ate well. We then had a cup of tea, which she enjoyed, and several times she said "isn't it nice to be with my family at Christmas" and I was so pleased that I had included her. That said, she was asleep for half the time, but who cares?
She then got worked up about what time she should get back to the Home, but to me I was reassured that she realised she was going back at all cos it had been a big concern of mine that she might not want to go back at all.
But it all worked well, the girls took her back, she told everyone about the lovely presents she had had, and it all went well.
So I am now thinking it is "safe" to invite her to our house now and again (we are only 7 miles away) for a cup of tea and a bun, which I have been scared to do before. She has been in the Care home for 4 months, and I wanted to get her used to it before I brought her to familiar places, but I now think I can do that. All in all, a very successful day, I am so pleased.
Any of you who are nervous about taking your relatives out of their usual environment, I hope this story will help.
Love to everyone who reads this. Hope you have enjoyed Christmas Day as I have.
Margaret