Just because your elderly parent is growing older doesn’t mean that they don’t enjoy spending time with their friends. Many friendships between seniors have lasted for decades as they’ve weathered the ups and downs of life together. However, aging presents special challenges to keeping friendship alive, especially when they become less mobile and depend on family members and home care assistants to perform daily activities. Driving restrictions can limit elderly people even more.
You can play a big part in helping your elderly parent stay close to their best friends by encouraging them to communicate and enabling them to get together as often as possible.
Here are 5 ways to help seniors stay close with best friends:
1. Communicate: Seniors may not be used to texting or tweeting but they can still communicated regularly with their best friends via the phone. Many elderly people take to social media quickly and embrace video chats and emails as an excellent way to communicate with friends and family. You can teach your aging parent how to utilize technology to stay in touch.
2. Send Gifts: Few things are more appreciated than a thoughtful gift out of the blue. Best friends can let each other know how much they appreciate the friendship by sending gifts. They don’t have to be expensive or extravagant—in fact, the best gifts are those that are handmade by a loved one. If your elderly parent wants to buy or make a gift for their best friend, you can help them make the delivery arrangements.
3. Commemorate: Friends of all ages enjoy celebrating together, whether it’s birthdays, anniversaries, landmark occasions or just for fun. Seniors can help celebrate with each other during these times with special cards or fun outings. If there are events that they like to attend, such as a reunion or a community celebration, family members and home care assistants can help with transportation.
4. Plan Outings: When seniors become less mobile it’s harder for them to get out and about. Help your elderly parent make plans for a special outing with their best friend. Common destinations include the movie theater, a restaurant or cafe, senior center, or park. It may take coordination with family members, home care aides and more, but nothing should stop two friends from getting together occasionally.
5. Be a Host: Friends don’t always need to go out and about when a cozy visit at home will do just fine. You can help your elderly parent plan a gathering at home, with refreshments and even some activities. Ideas include a game night, movie night or doing arts and crafts together. It’s also just fine not to over-plan and just let them catch up and enjoy each other’s company.
It’s no surprise that elderly people need their friends more than ever at this stage of life. Few others will be able to relate to the lifelong experiences they’ve shared, both the joys and the heartaches. You can help your aging parent stay close to their best friend by encouraging them to connect as often as possible.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Murray, UT, contact the caring staff at Interim Healthcare. Call today 801-401-3515.
Author: Michael and Marlena Hawkins, Owners, Interim HealthCare, Salt Lake City, UT
Interim HealthCare of Salt Lake City has been in business since February 2014, providing in-home personal care and support services that help our elderly and/or disabled neighbors live enriched, safe and independent lives. Our goal is to provide customized care and support services that make it possible for our clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes rather than relocate to an assisted living facility. Interim HealthCare is family owned by Michael and Marlana Hawkins, and is a Veteran Owned Small Business.
