By Roz Jones
Whether you’re living with your parents to provide care or dropping in to provide them with care, you may find that their wellbeing is always at the forefront of your mind. We note, however, that a rise in age comes with the decline of certain aspects of a person’s life. These include a person’s health and their ability to engage in physical and social activities.
Engaging in a variety of activities stimulates your client or loved one’s brain and encourages a healthy lifestyle, which leads to a better quality of life.
Our aging parents, unfortunately, may be hard-pressed to engage in the activities younger people actively enjoy. Still, there are several appropriate activities you can help your parents and loved ones enjoy. Let’s walk through some of these activities.
Activities elderly parents can engage in:
- Outdoor walks. Walking is one of the healthiest activities for humans. It requires little effort or equipment, but it still has long-term health advantages.
- Our elderly parents, who have a harder time moving, should go for a stroll at least once every two days. It doesn’t have to take long, and it doesn’t have to be far.
- Set a date with your parents, take a walk through a park and enjoy the scenery together. This would certainly be an activity your parents would enjoy.
- Playing board games. Enjoy classic games of old or learn new ones together.
- Board games and card games are not only entertaining, but they can also assist your parents to keep their minds sharp.
- Like board games, puzzles of all kinds can work too!
- Reading. For parents who may find it difficult to take part in activities that involve higher physical energy, reading is a fun pastime you can do with them.
- Reading might help you relax and boost your memory, as well as your parents. Consider going to a park or beach to read together.
- You could also try forming a book club for your parents with a few of their acquaintances. This is a good way to keep your parents engaged in vibrant discussions while also socializing as they get older.
- Gardening. Gardening is a relaxing and enjoyable activity your older parents might enjoy. It’s simple to enjoy in the sun or shade from the comfort of your parents’ house. You can still plant or re-pot flowers with your elderly parents even if they just have a small balcony or a windowsill.
- Gardening is also an activity that may be enjoyed by multiple generations. You, your parents, and any children you have can all take part in planting bulbs or seeds and watching them grow into flowers or food that you can all eat together.
- Family bonding. Family activities that allow your elderly parents to interact with their children and grandchildren would surely appeal to them. Spend time with them while preparing meals for the family. Plan family cookouts or picnics.
- Take them on vacations with the family. Spending quality time with loved ones is an activity that the elderly, who are more likely to be lonely, would enjoy.
Today’s culture, with its technological advancements, has led to a transfer of most people’s activities and attention to virtual spaces, and it’s easy for our aging parents to feel left out as they can’t keep up.
We can reassure our elderly parents that they are cherished and can still find delight in their later years by participating in these activities.
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Are you a Caregiver taking care of two loved ones? Did you check out Part 1 of last week’s episode? Check out Part 2 to hear more from Caregiver, Christine Psalms and how she takes care of both of her parents!
As a caregiver for both her parents, Christine shares:
1. How she worked on herself to prepare to be her father’s caregiver
2. How therapy, counseling, and journaling changed her life as a caregiver
3. Navigating relationships with loved ones without resentment.
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