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Due to age, your elderly parents may no longer be able to do the things they used to enjoy. Their friends might move or pass away, and they may not have the opportunity to meet new people. These situations normally lead to feelings of loneliness and boredom.
You can keep your elderly parents from getting bored by having regular family gatherings, encouraging them to read and pursue hobbies, and teaching them new skills. Offering support through communication can also help them stay connected and engaged.
It can be hard to keep elderly parents from feeling lonely or bored, but with a little effort, you should be able to keep them happy and content for years to come. This article will explore how you can keep elderly parents happy and engaged.
1. Have Regular Family Gatherings With Your Elderly Parents
Getting older can sometimes mean slowing down. Social circles slowly dwindle, and there are fewer opportunities to engage in exciting activities. These changes can lead to loneliness and boredom, especially for elderly parents who are used to leading active lives.
One way to prevent this from happening is by spending time with family. Whether it’s a weekly dinner or a monthly game night, getting together with family and loved ones can help stave off boredom and isolation.
It’s not only good for your elderly parents, but it’s good for the whole family. Spending time together helps strengthen relationships, and if you have children, it can help them get to know their grandparents before your parents pass on.
Family Gatherings Keep Your Parents Connected To Loved Ones
Family gatherings allow elderly parents to stay connected with their children and grandchildren, as they can catch up on all the latest news and share some of their stories from days past.
In addition to providing companionship, family gatherings can be a great source of support for the elderly. Spending time with loved ones can help them feel more appreciated and cared for if they feel lonely or isolated.
Your Elderly Parents Can Stay Sharp With Regular Gatherings
Family gatherings can also help elderly parents stay sharp mentally and emotionally. These gatherings provide an opportunity for connection, conversation, and laughter, which are all good for the mind and body.
Talking and laughing keeps the mind active and engaged, and during family gatherings, playing games or doing puzzles together can help improve cognitive function.
Family Gatherings Can Stave Off Depression and Loneliness
Depression and loneliness can be huge problems among elderly parents, as they may feel like they’re a burden to their children and that they no longer have a place in the world. However, family gatherings can help stave off these feelings and give them a sense of belonging.
Elderly parents can interact with their loved ones at family gatherings and feel like they are truly a part of the family, which boosts their mood and self-esteem. If your elderly parent struggles with depression or loneliness, consider inviting them to your next family gathering, as it may just be the boost they need to feel better.
Family Gatherings Give a Sense of Structure and Routine
Family gatherings can provide a much-needed sense of structure and routine in the lives of elderly parents. These gatherings don’t have to be big or elaborate affairs.
Even something as simple as a weekly family dinner can make a world of difference for an elderly parent, giving them something to look forward to regularly and helping them feel connected to their loved ones.
I go much more in-depth into the role of routine communication in my article, discussing how often you should call your elderly parents. You can check it out if you want help with restructuring your routine and making more time for your parents. How Often Should You Call Your Elderly Parents?
2. Encourage Your Elderly Parents To Read
Reading is a great way for the elderly to pass the time, as it can help them stay sharp and prevent cognitive decline. It can also be a social activity in groups or with loved ones.
Overall, it’s a great way for elderly parents to bond with their children or grandchildren.
Encouraging your parents to read can be fun, especially if they’re open to your suggestions. However, if they aren’t, you probably shouldn’t force it. And, if their eyesight isn’t very good anymore, this might not be a great plan.
That said, there are many ways to encourage them to read, such as by providing them with interesting books, magazines, or newspapers. Libraries and bookstores also offer seniors discounts on materials, as well as online resources that offer free e-books specifically for seniors.
Here are some ways to encourage reading in elderly parents:
- Make sure they have plenty of reading material. Books, magazines, newspapers, or even online articles are all excellent reading materials. Another option is to buy them a Kindle or iPad loaded with intriguing e-books, comics, and magazines so that they can have thousands of titles at their fingertips and carry them wherever they go.
- Visit the library together. If your parents prefer physical books, you can visit the library together and pick some interesting titles for them. You can also ask their friends and caretakers which books they like to read, giving you an idea of what genres or authors they might enjoy.
- Encourage them to read aloud to you. This activity can help them stay engaged with the material and also allows you to bond with them over a shared activity.
- Help them find material that interests them. If your elderly parents struggle to find something they enjoy reading, offer to help them look for something specific or make suggestions based on their interests.
3. Support Your Elderly Parents’ Hobbies or Interests
Pursuing hobbies and interests provides elderly parents with a sense of purpose that keeps them from getting bored and give them something to look forward to each day. Additionally, these activities help elderly parents stay active and engaged.
There are a couple of benefits to supporting your elderly parent’s interests, including:
- It can help them stay emotionally healthy. Pursuing meaningful hobbies can help ward off depression and isolation, two common problems among the elderly.
- Staying active through physical activities and simple exercises can help elderly parents stay healthy, potentially prolonging their life.
So why not show your support by helping your parent pursue their hobby or interest? It could be as simple as taking them to a class or providing transportation to an event.
Talk to Your Elderly Parents About What They Like To Do
Have a conversation with your elderly parents about what they like to do. It can be difficult for some adult children to understand what their parents enjoy doing, but talking about it can help you understand the best way to support their hobbies and interests.
They might be interested in hobbies they never had time for when they were younger, such as gardening, painting, or playing an instrument. Or, they may enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and discussing their life experiences.
Make Sure Your Elderly Parents Have the Resources They Need
Hobbies are a great way for elderly parents to relax and unwind, but they can also be expensive and time-consuming. But by helping your parents acquire the resources they need for their hobbies, you show them that you care by reducing some of the financial burdens.
If your parent enjoys painting, for example, ensure they have access to paints, canvases, and other supplies. Help them find ways to pursue their hobbies and interests, such as signing them up for classes or providing moral support as they pursue their interests.
You’re also likely to learn a lot about your parents’ interests, and you may even enjoy some of their hobbies.
Teach Your Elderly Parents New Skills
Another way to keep your elderly parents from getting bored is by teaching them new skills. It makes them feel more engaged and purposeful while providing a sense of accomplishment.
There are many ways to go about teaching new skills to the elderly. You can find classes or programs specifically designed for seniors or incorporate new activities into everyday life. For example, if an elderly parent enjoys cooking, try teaching them a new recipe or cooking technique.
Ultimately, your goal is to keep things interesting and stimulating for elderly parents. By doing so, they can maintain a high quality of life well into their later years.
Consider the following when teaching your elderly parents new skills:
- Start with simple tasks and work your way up. For example, if you want them to learn how to use a smartphone, begin by showing them how to make a call or send a text message.
- Be patient, and don’t get frustrated if they don’t catch on immediately. It may take a while for them to learn and adjust to using new technology or practicing a new skill.
- Offer support and encouragement. Tell your elderly parents to keep practicing even after they’ve mastered the basics. Doing so will help them retain the new skills and stay mentally sharp.
- Choose activities that are appropriate for your parent’s abilities and interests. Teaching elderly parents how to use a computer or smartphone can help them stay connected with friends and family. Or you could find cooking, gardening, or craft activities.
Teaching elderly parents new skills doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming.
Simple activities such as learning words from a new language or hobby can make a big difference. By spending time with loved ones through learning, you can help them reduce boredom and improve their mental well-being.
4. Offer Your Elderly Parents Support Through Communication
Elderly parents can find it difficult to go out and socialize like they used to. To prevent boredom and loneliness in our aging loved ones, you can offer support through regular communication.
Regular conversations with your elderly parents, even if it’s just a brief chat on the phone or a quick video call, can make a big difference.
Communication can help them feel connected and safe, preventing them from feeling isolated and bored. You can also use these conversations to check in on their well-being and see if they need any assistance.
You can also offer our support through other forms of communication, such as cards, letters, or emails. Here are some tips for communicating with elderly parents in a supportive way:
- Be an active listener. When communicating with elderly parents, it’s important to be attentive and listen to what they say. Avoid interrupting, making assumptions about what they mean, or judging them. Also, don’t tell them that you’ve heard their stories before, as this can be taken wrong and hurt their feelings.
- Ask questions. It can be difficult to communicate with elderly parents, who might be dealing with age-related issues such as hearing loss, vision problems, and dementia. Therefore, if you don’t understand something your parent is saying, or if you want to know more about their thoughts or feelings on a subject, don’t hesitate to ask a question, which can show them that you’re actively engaged in the conversation.
- Pick the right time and place. Make sure you are in a quiet place with no distractions when you talk to them so they can focus on the conversation.
- Speak clearly and slowly. Elderly parents may not be able to process information as quickly as they used to, so it’s important to enunciate and give them time to respond.
- Try to find common ground. Talk about shared memories or experiences, and try to see things from their perspective. Such conversations can help build empathy and make it easier to connect.
- Be creative. You can include family photos and stories as part of regular communication so that they can see how much has changed while maintaining continuity between past and present generations within the family unit.
The most important thing is ensuring elderly parents feel loved and supported. By staying in touch and doing things together, you can help prevent boredom and isolation.
Conclusion
Elderly parents can often feel lonely, bored, and isolated, but with a little effort, you can keep them engaged and happy for many years. Having regular gatherings, supporting your parents’ hobbies, and helping them learn new skills can give them a sense of purpose and enjoyment that they may have been missing for some time.
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