I am always concerned with dad being at the ALF and not participating in the activities that they organize for the residents. As I think left to his own devices he would go to his room and be drawn to his delusions and nobody is any the wiser. I always ask him "What did you do today?" when I visit and sometimes he can relate a story but mostly talks about the delusions he experienced during the day. Usually the staff have changed over before I get to see him and there is no one who can directly say what sort of day he has had. He will be getting a visit today from two very dear friends whom as children we lived in a caravan at their house as children and their mother is a dear friend to my mother.
The ladies one of whom has suffered bipolar will be at least understanding of what dad is going through and the other has just been diagnosed with thyroid cancer they are both beautiful souls and I adored these girls as a child and am looking forward to seeing them both and seeing dad have a happy visit from people from his past. I know there will be emotion during the visit too but in the end will make dads day a good one.
Asked mum about organizing a massage for dad and she was happy for me to look into it. Thought it would be way of helping him relax I will be present through it incase anything untoward happens but I hope he will enjoy it and if he does will make it a regular thing for him.

One thing I noticed when my husband was in a dementia care facility last year was that the residents don't interact much. They each seem to be in his or her own little world.

Kelli, Frank has a massage every other week, I'm sure it helps and he is so relaxed we keep asking him if he's awake. Our PT sessions didn't work out because he couldn't figure out how to do any of the exercises. I try to do some stretching and twisting with him and we usually walk 1+mile a day. I hope your dad enjoys being pampered.
Gerry

Maybe my mother lives in an unusual dementia facility but I've been observing the residents pretty much every day for a year and they do interact. A lot. Some of them show a concern for others. I've had one lady who can barely speak lead another one who was coughing uncontrollably to me by the hand so that I could help her. Others form social groups of two to four. One such group of three regularly got together in the evening to share their delusions and try to figure out a way to escape from the facility (they failed). Two ladies right now are at about the same level and they sit together at meals and walk together. My mother doesn't have firm friends there (except with caregivers) but she thinks that she works there as a nurse and she tries to care for others. There are the "pacers" who walk around and around the square's halls, often saying hi or how you doing or excuse me when they pass. Sometimes the grouchy "pacers" pick a fight and the bossy ones try to make others walk a certain direction. There are those who set their wheelchairs in the middle of the hall purposely blocking people. It's a community of 32 people and unless they are completely bedridden in their room they have a relationship with other folks with dementia.

One tip about clothing (and everything else we want to keep) - we write my mother's name with permanent marker on each sock, underwear, sweater tag, etc. It all goes in the laundry together.