As aging adults find the activities of daily living difficult to complete, it’s common for their adult children to take on various caregiving duties. While caregiving can be a loving and rewarding experience, the role reversal can sometimes weaken the relationship between an aging adult and a family caregiver as a result of stress, anxiety, and differences of opinion about the senior’s ability to live independently. It’s important for adult children to maintain their roles as family members, not just caregivers, and they should always emphasize the importance of continuing to strengthen their bonds with their aging parents.
Studies show seniors who have strong connections with their family members enjoy many physical and emotional benefits, such as enhanced mood, higher cognitive functioning, and faster recovery from illnesses and surgery. Additionally, seniors have a wealth of experience that can serve as a resource for younger family members. For those who are looking for some fun and innovative ways to strengthen their bonds with their senior loved ones, the following ideas can encourage multigenerational interaction that may benefit every member of the family.
Record Your Loved One’s Life Story
As seniors advance in age, they often look to the past and recount experiences that shaped their lives. Recording these stories not only creates a valuable piece of family memorabilia, but it also allows all the members of the family to learn more about their history. When recording your loved one’s life story, encourage other family members to share their favorite experiences, such as a special holiday memory or the time they learned a new skill together, to create a multigenerational collection that demonstrates the influential role your loved one plays in the family.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted elderly home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
Play Interactive Video Games
Encourage your loved one to stay active by playing interactive video games together. Many of these games involve using handheld controllers that allow people of varying physical abilities to play together, including stroke survivors as well as seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s. From bowling to tennis, seniors can enjoy participating in their favorite sports while in the comfort of their homes. Video games are also a great way to get younger children and teens to bond with their grandparents while sharing activities they love.
If your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, compassionate assistance is just a phone call away. Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Fair Oaks Home Care Assistance provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives.
Discover a Shared Hobby
Sharing a hobby or working on a long-term project together can help family members look forward to visiting their loved ones. Planting a garden, trying new recipes for a family cookbook, and woodworking are all hobbies that can be worked on in short increments of time until the projects are finished. These types of activities enable seniors to share their knowledge while developing a stronger sense of purpose and rapport with family members and friends.
Bonding with your loved one can provide a significant boost to his or her mental and emotional health. However, there may be times when you are unavailable to offer the companionship your loved one needs and deserves. Fair Oaks at-home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Home Care Assistance team at (916) 485-4663 today.