6 Activities You Can Do with Your Elderly Loved One to Stay Connected with Her
Elderly Care in Allentown NJ
Sometimes it can be difficult to connect with your elderly loved one, especially if she’s in pain a lot or if she has significant health problems. Try some of these ideas to connect more with your loved one.
Have Movie Night Regularly
Movies at home are a great way to connect and to spend time with the people that you love. Choose a mix of different movies that each of you enjoy and don’t worry about who’s talking during the movie as long as you’re having a good time.
Do Chores and Other Tasks Together
When is the last time that you did some kind of task with your loved one and simply caught up with each other? Things like preparing vegetables for dinner are a way to actively get something done while you’re talking and expressing love for each other. Some of those tasks, like folding laundry or dusting the living room, seem mundane, but the contact with your loved one makes it bigger.
Have a Game Night
Board games, card games, and other types of games are a lot of fun and they’re an easy way to get the whole family together. Set up a standing appointment with as many family members as possible and stick to it. Games are mentally stimulating, too, which makes this an especially good idea for your elderly loved one.
Plan Visits Often
If you don’t live with your elderly loved one, it’s important to make sure that you’re visiting regularly. Set up a specific date and time and stick with that appointment. You might also want to ask other members of the family to set up regular visits, too.
Interview Your Elderly Loved One
Do you remember all of the stories that your elderly loved one has told you over the years? Chances are that you’ve forgotten a few of the details. Try making a video or audio recording of interviews with your elderly loved one. You’ll have them forever and they’re a wonderful thing to have to hand down to future generations.
Reminisce Together
Sometimes talking about the past can be painful, but most of the time it’s healthy. Talk with your loved one about specific events that you remember or that you both enjoyed. This can be a great way to laugh with each other.
If you need other ideas about how to connect with your elderly loved one, particularly if her health problems make that difficult, try asking her doctor and her elder care providers for tips to make it easier.