Outings

The facility and your love one's medical experts will make the final determination of if your loved one is physically able, mentally alert and cognizant enough to handle an outing. Like anyone, your loved one still wants to go places, do things and see things, even if his or her ability to do so may be less than it once was.

Your loved one's care center will be happy to give you details on any procedures or rules for taking patients and residents from the buildings for short excursions. Some insurance programs may also have restrictions on outings. If an outing is possible, you will want to make sure you have contact information for the facility in case of an emergency, and you may want to discuss with your loved one's caregivers any advice or tips they may have for caring for your loved one.

Depending on your loved one's physical and mental capabilities, there are many outings you might consider:

• Take a walk in the park
• Plan a cookout with family and friends at your house or another familiar place
• Visit a farmers market, a grocery store or a shopping mall to stimulate visual interest
• Visit historical places that may bring back memories – such as a museum, a farm or a place they used to live
• Take a drive through the countryside
• Bring him or her to a symphony or a café with music

Should your loved one be unable to leave the premises, you could work with staff to decorate the dining hall like a favorite restaurant or special place. Coordinate with the facility's activities department and make sure to include things that may bring back memories, such as big band music or pictures of people from a certain era.