Everyone plans to visit their senior loved one often, yet life sometimes gets in the way of making sure the goal of regular visits is achieved. When times get busy, use these reasons to visit as reminders of why it’s important to spend time with your loved one frequently.
Offer Something to Brag About
Seniors love socializing, but your loved one may sometimes find it difficult to come up with topics of conversation when he or she attends community events. Your regular visits to see your loved one creates instant bragging rights, and having something interesting to say makes it easier to form friendships. Make sure to snap some photos together during your next visit that your loved one can show off to his or her friends.
If you’re unable to visit your loved one regularly, consider hiring an in-home caregiver who can stop by a few hours a day or a few days a week. When researching agencies that provide home care, Fair Oaks, CA, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance.
Provide Emotional Support During Difficult Times
Your loved one may not always let you know when he or she is feeling sad. In fact, your loved one may even try to put on a brave face during your visit if he or she doesn’t see you often. With regular visits, your loved one may feel more comfortable opening up, and you may even be able to notice when he or she is feeling down without him or her saying a word. This way, you can provide the support your loved one needs to avoid feeling the symptoms of depression.
Avoiding depression can significantly boost quality of life in the elderly. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of homecare families can rely on. All of our caregivers are bonded, licensed, and insured, there are no hidden fees, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts.
Learn a Valuable Skill to Pass Down in Your Family
There are many things that cannot be done during brief visits that occur only every few months. When you drop in on your loved one on a regular basis, you have more time for him or her to teach you the things he or she has learned over the years. For instance, your loved one can show you how to cook a few of your great-grandmother’s favorite recipes, or you may spend a few weeks making a memory quilt together.
Discover Things You Never Knew About Your Loved One
It’s amazing how long you can know someone and still be surprised. Perhaps your grandfather never told you about how he met your grandmother, or your parent may have had an adventurous life before you were born that you never heard about. Now that you’re both older, your loved one may feel like opening up. In addition to hearing stories, you may gain new respect for the person your loved one is by watching how to gracefully work his or her way through the aging process.
Take Time to Review Your Loved One’s Current Living Arrangements
Your visits to your loved one should be mostly full of fun, yet there are also important things to do while you’re there. For instance, you might peek into the refrigerator to make sure your loved one has enough groceries to prepare healthy meals. Alternatively, you can check for signs of ill health, such as complaints of pain. Once you address the issue, you can then check up on your loved one’s progress during your next visit so he or she benefits from ongoing care.
Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Fair Oaks, CA, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity. To schedule a free in-home consultation with one of our friendly Care Managers, call (916) 485-4663 today.