Caregivers spend a lot of time with ageing loved ones – and this is especially true if you’re caring for your ageing parents.
Old age, disabilities, and other issues mean that ageing parents need lots of care – and diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s can increase the amount of care that you have to give to your ageing loved one.
This isn’t a bad thing, though, especially if your parents are still in relatively good health. There are plenty of fun ways that caregivers can spend time with their ageing parents, and in this article we’ll take a look at 5 fun ways that family caregivers can spend time with their ageing parents – and provide great care while doing it.
Everybody loves games. Whether you’re into board games, card games, word games, or even video games, you can have a blast while you spend time with a parent that you’re giving care for by playing games.
Did your parents play a lot of bridge when they were younger? Learn the rules – and do your best to beat them! Do they like board games? Bust out that game of RISK that you’ve had sitting in your closet for the last decade, and battle them in a game of global domination. Word games more their thing? Set yourselves up with some puzzle books, and do crosswords until you can’t even stand the words “7 across”.
Playing games is fun for everyone – and offers caregivers a fantastic chance to spend quality time with ageing parents.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. If your parents are sometimes unwilling to talk about the past or just don’t bother to mention it much, looking at old photo books can be a fantastic way to get them talking about themselves, their friends, and their lives.
Believe it or not, your parents did have lives before you were born. Looking at old pictures is a great way to learn about their lives, bond with them, and spend some quality time thinking about great times past.
Walking outside is a fantastic way to spend time with your ageing parents – walking and exercise have been proven to stave off mental deterioration and increase physical fitness and longevity, and getting out of the house is a great way to help you and your ageing parents clear your minds, and enjoy the benefits of nature.
If your parents are unable to walk but are still in a relatively healthy and good condition, consider taking them out in a wheelchair. Though they may not be able to gain the increased physical benefits of walking, they’ll certainly enjoy some time outside of the house.
Today it’s easier than ever to communicate and connect with far away loved ones. Doing so can give your parents an opportunity to see and speak with people they may not have seen in years – and not just family members.
Old friends can be found on social media website like Facebook, and it’s easy enough to set up Skype or other video chat sessions with people over the internet, so you could give your parents an opportunity to speak with loved ones that they haven’t communicated with in years.
Cooking is a blast. Cooking a meal with your ageing parents is a fantastic way to spend some time with them, and get some chores out of the way to boot – chances are your mom or dad is still a great cook, and has some lessons to teach you about the kitchen.
And though cooking a meal together is great fun, the real fun comes once you’re done. You get to eat it! So find some great recipes online, get your apron out of the closet, and get in the kitchen. It’s a great way to connect with your parents, and have some delicious dinner to boot.
Your ageing parents are just going through another stage of life. Whether you only pop in to see them occasionally, or are a full-time family caregiver, there are still plenty of activities that they can do – whether alone, or with you.
So check out these fun activities, spend some time with your ageing parents, and have some fun. Both you and your loved ones deserve it.
5