Seniors usually prefer living at home for as long as possible, but they can also tend to get lonely. As a child of a senior parent, you probably cannot take full responsibility for your parent's enjoyment in life because you are busy and have a life of your own, but there are ways to help your parent feel less lonely. Here are three great ideas to consider that may help improve your parent's enjoyment and satisfaction in life.
Stay Active in Your Parent's Life
When a parent begins needing more help, it tends to work out well when there are several people to take these responsibilities. If you are an only child, or if you are the only child that lives in the area, most of the responsibilities may be placed on your shoulders. This is probably something that you want to do and enjoy doing, and you can stay active by:
- Visiting regularly – Let your mom or dad know when you will be there and keep your word.
- Calling your parent daily – If you cannot call daily, try to set up a schedule that involves at least a few phone calls each week.
- Sending him or her letters in the mail – Getting a letter is something your parent may enjoy too, and you may want to send one letter each week.
While it's extremely important for you to stay active in your parent's life, you must realize that there are other ways to keep your parent occupied and content in life.
Find Activities for Him or Her
While many seniors have limited mobility, there are still things they can do to keep them busy. Staying busy is an important part of feeling satisfied with life, and there are many things seniors can do to stay busy. As you help your parent find some activities to do, consider what he or she likes. From there, you may find several different things your parent could take part in, and here are some ideas:
- Church activities – If your parent is a member of a church, there might be activities available for seniors. This can include exercise groups, game days, or singing events.
- Volunteering – There are organizations in most towns that look for volunteers for events and activities, and these might be easy enough for your mom or dad to do.
- Local community centers – Many towns also have community centers that offer a variety of activities for adults. Some activities can include playing bingo, crocheting with other seniors, or reading books together. These centers may also offer meals for seniors and entertainment on certain days of the week.
Taking part in activities can be extremely fun for seniors, but this is also something that keeps them busy and active.
Hire Home Care Services
Home care services come in many types and forms, and you can select the best type for your parent. If he or she needs medical help or help with personal hygiene, you may want to look for a company that offers home health services. For a parent that simply needs company or rides to and from places, you may want to consider looking into companion care.
Companion care provides essential needs for elderly people, and these include:
- Emotional support
- Someone to talk to
- A person to drive them places
- Someone to do activities with
- Help with things such as cooking and cleaning
The main goal of companion care is to offer seniors someone to be with. This type of support is crucial for most elderly people, and your parent may be happier knowing that there is someone coming to visit every week.
Taking care of an elderly parent alone can be time-consuming and difficult, but you don't have to tackle this alone. You can enroll your parent in various activities, and this may help your parent feel happier during the remainder of his or her years.