Family and friends should contact Dad directly where possible. This reduces the time, financial and mental health burden on me. To that end, this and the next several posts outline the various ways to contact Dad and some challenges you may encounter.
The other, but far less important, reason for this series of posts is to address certain accusations – and the fear/confusion/assumptions/ignorance behind them.
Hands down, face-to-face visitations are the most valuable and beneficial to Dad. Aside from the need to travel, they are the most straightforward, effective, and satisfying way to communicate with Dad.
There is car parking, both at the “Lucinda” building (where Dad lives) and nearby buildings. There is also some public transport in the area. The Sandgate train station is within a 30-minute walk. Bus routes 310 and 312 stop right outside Regis.
Masks, sign-ins, proof of vaccination, etc are no longer required. But If you have COVID, the flu or any other infectious disease, virus or infestation, please don’t visit Regis until you fully recover. Given how fragile most residents are, it does take much to trigger lockdowns.
You can bring lunch/dinner/snacks to him at Regis. However, you will need to assist Dad with eating. This may mean ‘spoon-feeding’ him softer/runnier foods, chopping food into bite-sized pieces so he can feed himself, and cleaning up the inevitable mess afterwards. Mild to moderately hard/crispy – bite-sized – finger foods and confectionary are the easiest to manage.