Some ways to keep families involved in memory care are listed below.

1. Visit Consistently

Having regular face-to-face interactions with your loved one helps maintain an emotional connection that can be critical as they move through stages of dementia or other memory conditions. Consistency is often more important than the length of the visit or planning a major activity. Half an hour of conversation, reading aloud or simply sitting together can be soothing for a loved one and helpful when you do it regularly.

Consider the best time to join your loved one. You may be able to visit during mealtimes and share a meal together in the memory care community dining room once or twice a week. Or if your loved one tends to be more active and enjoys company in the morning, you might want to drop by for tea and to look at pictures together every Tuesday.

2. Participate in Community Activities

Ask your memory care community staff if it's possible for you to attend events or activities with your loved one. By joining in on activities like art sessions, music therapy or exercise classes, you demonstrate support for an older adult and may help them transition into these activities if they're newer to the community.

Even if you can't attend day-to-day activities, many communities offer periodic events like holiday gatherings or family dinner nights. These are designed to help bring family members and people of all ages into the community, and they can be a great time to show up for a loved one.

3. Provide Memory Boxes or Personal Items and Pictures

When you visit, bring photographs, favorite books or music albums, comfort items and things that might be familiar to your loved one. Consider putting together a memory box you can leave with them that may help support recognition when you visit again. You could also put together a photo album with pictures of close family, labeled with names and a few details. Labeled pictures can help staff go through the memory items with your loved one when you're not there.

4. Collaborate With the Care Team

Stay in touch with the team caring for your loved one in a memory care community. When possible, attend care plan meetings, whether in person or by phone, so you can ask questions, clarify needs and preferences and advocate for your loved one. Collaborating with care teams helps ensure the most individualized care possible, especially when your loved one may no longer be able to communicate their own needs.

5. Keep Celebrating Milestones

Continue celebrating important milestones, like birthdays, anniversaries and holidays, with your loved one, even if they don't seem to remember them. Consider their needs, especially when it comes to sensory inputs. Older adults dealing with a memory-related condition may not enjoy loud, visually cluttered celebrations. Instead, offer a thoughtful gift or treat on birthdays, and provide a few calming decorations or visit as a family during seasonal holidays.

6. Support Routines From Further Away

Not every family lives near enough to loved ones to visit regularly. If that's the case, stay involved with frequent calls and by sending cards. Record a voice message for your loved one and ask community staff to play it regularly to help your relative continue to recognize your voice when you call.

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