Dad (92) is still living alone at their home. The time has come to move him. He has moderate dementia, but is able to take care of himself. We had plans to move him to an independent apartment on the same campus as the nursing home, but think he may do better in assisted living. The facility that offers the best situation would require moving Mom as well to the nursing home part of that facility. We want them to be able to see each other as much as possible. Now we are worried how the move might affect Mom.
IF elders are about equally impaired, and get along well, they can often be placed in a 2-bed room together.
IF they are at different states of dementia/dysfunction, it can be bad to bunk them in same room.
If one is in the nursing home section, and the other in assisted living,
it could be arrangable for your Dad, for instance, to get help /transport over to the nursing home part for a visit periodically
--that can be arranged as a regular visit, like maybe for them to have meals together daily or something.
BUT...
Each time an elder gets moved, it is almost guaranteed that the move can make the dementia worse.
Often, that stays at the worsened level, though some do regain some ability, just not quite as much.
It is necessary to evaluate whether placing 2 demented elders together even for a visit, is a good thing or a bad thing, and, who is it really for??
One needs to look at their levels of dementia, whether it is a good or bad day for either of them, and are either of them enjoying it?
Often, adult children have imprinted memories of how well their parents got along in the past..but the dementia might have erased that, and now the elders might be combative or argumentative--no longer cute or loving!
--But as long as them being together is helpful, loving and/or healthful
---for the 2 of them---
they should be helped to have visits, or even a room together.