Keep Visiting - Even if Your Loved Ones Don’t Recognize You by Marie Marley

There was a lady named Helen who had dementia. Every time her daughter, Heidi, visited Helen showed no sign of recognizing her daughter.

Heidi was heartbroken. Time after time it was the same. She’d visit and get no sign of recognition whatsoever, so finally she made the painful decision to stop visiting.

It only upset her and she believed her mother felt no pleasure during her visits.

Marie Marley, PhD, is the award award winning author of, Come Back Early Today: A Story of Love, Alzheimer’s and Joy. You can visit Marie’s website at ComeBackEarlyToday.
They May Recognize You but Not Be Able to Express It

It’s always possible, however, that your loved ones do recognize you but are just not be able to show it.

I had a personal experience which I believe demonstrates this. I volunteer to visit three ladies with dementia at a local memory care facility. One of the ladies I was assigned to visit was named Doris.

Doris was so frail that just about the most I could do with her was sit and hold her hand. I also talked to her a little but she rarely said anything in response. In fact she rarely said anything to anyone. She showed no sign of recognizing me from my previous visits.

Then one day – during my sixth visit – as I was holding her hand she put her other hand on my arm and began caressing it. I had the distinct feeling that she remembered me. I don’t think she would have been so openly affectionate to a total stranger.

I wasn’t really surprised when I found out that Doris passed away just a few days after that visit. I was so happy I’d gone all those times and that she’d been so responsive during my final visit.

They May Remember How Often You Visit Even if They no Longer Remember Their Relationship with You

I was speaking at an Alzheimer’s family support group recently. A man there told me that he visited his wife, who had advanced-stage dementia, nearly every day even though she didn’t recognize him as her husband.

He learned early on, however, that she knew when he’d missed a day. She’d always say, “You didn’t come yesterday.”

Once he realized that she did remember if he’d been there, he tried even harder to never miss a day.

They May Enjoy Being Visited, Even if They Don’t Know Who You Are

I had another personal experience which led me to this conclusion.

Although I was fortunate enough that my Romanian life partner, Ed, always recognized me, he had many visitors he didn’t remember. I was present during some of these visits and it was always perfectly obvious that he enjoyed spending time with them.

When these people were there he’d often hold hands with one of them – female or male – the whole time. And he’d have a long, pleasant talk with them. It was perfectly obvious he was enjoying himself.

Come Back Early Today

A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer’s and Joy

You May Feel Gratified That You’ve Given Them Pleasure

Although the main focus of your visits is your loved ones, you might find there’s an unexpected benefit for you, too.

You may initially feel hurt or frustrated that they don’t recognize you, but if you can get over that hurdle and if it was clear that they enjoy the visit, you will probably feel gratified that you gave them that pleasure.

You may remain in a good mood afterward, too.

Can anyone think of other reasons you should visit loved ones who don’t recognize you?

Has anyone experienced any of the issues above?

A slightly different version of this article was published on the Huffington Post.

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