This week, I got to visit the assisted living residence for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Unlike the children’s hospital and the big hospital, I have lots of residents who I see regularly. Like the woman who always asks for high fives. And the woman who loves cats who’s going downhill, but is still present enough to tell me she loves me. And the loud guy who acts out, but who was surprisingly calmed by my appearance this time.
One regular I don’t interact with often is a blind man in a wheelchair. I only get to visit with him if he asks the staff for help. And this time he did, so he was able to touch my soft fur.
I also saw some newer people, and residents I hadn’t seen before. The staff put on some funky disco music from the 1970s, and I sat next to one woman who was really grooving to the tunes. And there was one younger guy there. He was maybe in his forties. Which is a reminder that some forms of dementia strike early. A couple of the older guys spent time with me. One especially was an animal lover and had many during his former life.
I spent lots of time there, but still was able to go over to the second house. It’s usually quieter and not as crowded. But I do have some regulars there. One woman had the softest blanket on her lap, and you know I wanted to hang out on that! There was also a friendly man my human has seen there several times. She was never sure if he was a resident or a visitor. But this time she finally figured out he’s a resident. Sometimes it’s hard to tell.
The thing I like about visiting these residents is that many of them recognize me from visit to visit. And when they don’t, it’s like making a new friend all over again.
Here are some of my other assisted living visits:
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