My elderly friend sent her demented companion back to her childhood home in another country where her relatives could care for her. The companion often asks when she can return to the U.S. This is not possible because there is no one here who can care for her. When her U.S. friends send her emails, that triggers her to beg to come back. Is it better for them not to write so that she won't be reminded of her loss?
I remember my Mom wanting to "go home". It took me a bit of a while to realize that Mom was talking about the home she grew up in. I had to start using "therapeutic fibs" when she asked to see her parents, and her siblings. Mom was 98 at the time. The fibs always worked because half hour later Mom would forget she had asked about her immediate family.
Have her U.S. friend keep writing as eventually her companion will forget who she is :( And tell your U.S. friend about helpful "therapeutic fibs". She can always tell her companion that the house is being remodeled and it's a mess right now.... that there was a water pipe burst, water everywhere, etc.
For the begging to come back issue, the relatives can also use indefinite delaying tactics - we'll have to see what the doctors say, perhaps when your leg/eye/hip replacement is better - and distraction techniques - Niece is bringing her babies to see you this weekend.
What is the other country? Is it Anglophone or are there also language issues? Is there a very marked difference in living standards?
I think that distraction would work.
However, I fear that asking lots of questions would confuse her and end up making her more distressed as she starts yearning for her previous life. Her relatives feel quite sorry for her. She did like sports. I wonder if she could participate where she is (in Southeast Asia).