Winter is here, and the cold weather restricts many older people from going outdoors for exercise or entertainment. Caregivers are often faced with thinking of creative ideas to keep their elderly parent’s or spouse’s spirits high during the next few months.
Eighty-five percent of seniors who require daily assistance receive at-home care instead of help from a health care provider. This leaves millions of Americans looking for a way to provide their loved ones with stimulating and enjoyable activities — adding another role to their daily job and home responsibilities.
The right activities provide a wide array of intellectual, physical and social stimulants designed to alleviate boredom, enhance health and enforce feelings of success, skill and achievement. When you identify the activities a senior most enjoys, they become a part of your regular routine. This continuity satisfies your loved one and gives you peace of mind.
Below are some helpful hints for caregivers:
To keep a senior intellectually engaged:
• Reminisce with the person. Old photos and memorabilia help generate conversation and provide older adults with comfort and happiness.
• Play CDs or DVDs of old radio shows or music the person enjoys. Local libraries are a good resource for these items.
• Encourage your loved one to assist with chores. You may be surprised at the sense of freedom, responsibility and satisfaction a person feels from assisting with such tasks as folding towels, watering plants, setting the table or peeling potatoes.
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