Once you get Mom or Dad successfully placed into a care facility, you will want to visit. Your cheerful smile will bring joy; your company will be appreciated. As for when to visit, this presents another question entirely. Here are a few guidelines to follow:
Refrain from stopping in at dinner time. Meal time at care facilities can be hectic, what with care staff scurrying around ensuring that every resident gets fed. The clatter of dishes being cleared away can be noisy as well, thus restricting any conversation between you and your loved one.
Avoid any regularly scheduled "care" time for your parent. A routine physiotherapy appointment or even a bath is not the time to stop in and expect to spend some quality moments with a parent.
Steer clear of "nap time". If your parent likes to routinely doze on a Sunday afternoon right after lunch, let him/her do this. Older bodies need more rest. Think of how friendly you might be if you were woken up - even by a well-meaning family member.
Check in with facility management to confirm what level of access you will have. Some facilities will allow family members to visit on a 24/7 basis while others will impose restrictions. Get to know your parent's schedule at the facility and respect those times of the day or evening when visiting is not appropriate. By doing so, you will have stays which are better for the both of you!
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