You make regular visits to your aging mother or father, grandmother or grandfather, aunt or uncle, but whether they still live in the home or are in a senior living community, you can get caught up in the logistics of caregiving. Housekeeping, medications, meals, appointments, bills—the list goes on.
You may feel as though you’re not truly spending quality time together because things have changed. The activities that you both used to enjoy now seem challenging, if not impossible.
The key to making the most out of your visits is finding engaging, meaningful and purposeful activities that are unique to your senior loved one’s care level.
Time spent visiting can be difficult, but going prepared with something to do provides an anchor. If a family member who lives in a senior care facility becomes confused or wants to go home, you can redirect to the activity. The task at hand can also serve as a timer if you have trouble leaving: The end of the activity signals the end of the visit.
When choosing an activity to do with your loved one, keep in mind the types of activities they may have previously enjoyed. Someone who didn’t like art museums before probably won’t like one now, but perhaps a recorded concert of their favorite singer will get them up and dancing.
A well-rounded routine that includes fun is necessary to improve the quality of life, keep your loved ones physically and cognitively engaged, and reduce stress and agitation.
Here are a few activity ideas you can do together to create enjoyable moments among the day-to-day necessities of caregiving.
Activities that caregivers and seniors can do together
- Household tasks such as organizing a closet, sorting tools or folding laundry are familiar and can help someone feel engaged—in a purposeful way—in their own care.
- Cooking and baking are great ways to inspire memories of favorite recipes, aromas, tastes and times. Mom and dad may need more supervision and help these days, but cooking utilizes all of our senses, which are powerful prompts to memory and conversation as in, “Do you remember that Thanksgiving when…?”
- Legacy projects such as scrapbooks with family photos or biography projects such as Storyworth can help tap into long-term memories. In the process, you may learn something new about your loved one.
- Small crafts such as yarn projects or flower arrangements can engage interest and creativity. These activities are fun, have a start and an end, are easy to clean up, and leave a nice memento for both of you.
- Family favorite board games, card games, crosswords and the like can help keep aging minds, and younger ones, active. Many of these can be done independently or with a partner and are available in large print for people with visual impairments. Puzzles with large-size pieces are available for hands that no longer have the dexterity of youth, or even middle age.
- Seniors with mobility issues can benefit from movement. Many great exercise programs, like yoga classes or chair exercise programs, are online. If “exercise” isn’t your family member’s favorite word, consider subtle ways to get them up and around—dancing, walking or having fun. Seeing you get active can often act as a cue for your loved one to participate. Plus, what’s good for the heart is good for the brain.
- Enjoy virtual escapes. The pandemic expanded the options for online programs that can transport you from the comfort of home! Getting out virtually, you can explore local museums, zoos or cities, anywhere in the world.
- Creative therapies such as dance, art and music, led by licensed professionals, can have wonderful beneficial effects for seniors, regardless of their physical and cognitive abilities. Creative pursuits can tap into an individual’s physical and mental strengths and give a sense of accomplishment. Caregivers can often participate alongside their family members and gain an extra benefit from seeing their loved ones feeling good about themselves.
- Get active in your community together. Older adults and their caregivers can explore local senior centers to find fun social or educational activities in Texas. For individuals dealing with memory loss, consider checking out Memory Cafes, which are designed to give people living with dementia a place to come together in appropriate environments and offer each other company and support.
- Local attractions, such as Space Center Houston, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin and Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, offer accessible programs specifically geared to individuals living with vision, hearing or mobility impairments. Getting out of the house keeps your aging family member socialized and actively engaged with other members of the community.
- If your family has religious or spiritual beliefs and traditions, consider ways you can continue to practice them together. Prayers, songs and other rituals can bring familiar, comforting feelings and foster a deeper intimacy between you.
- If mom or dad is in a senior living community, participate in activities offered there. This can give you insight into what their days are like when you’re not around, and allowing them to share pieces of their lives with you can strengthen your relationship.
No matter your loved one’s care level, active engagement is vital in maintaining a positive, loving relationship and making the most of the time you have together. Be mindful that activities may take longer to complete, and you may need to provide more guidance than previously. But even if you’re leading the project, the activity is still providing your loved one with important stimulation and connection.
The goal is to adapt to meet their current abilities rather than allowing age to strip meaning from your lives.