Since birth, your parents have done everything in their power to give you the best quality of life. Now that they are retired, it is time for the roles to be reversed. The best way to repay them for all they have done over the years is to ensure that they are healthy and happy.
There are many potential ways to show your love and support. Here are some of the best.
1. Help Them Find A Winning Home Living Situation
Positive home surroundings are important at any stage of life. However, they take on an even greater significance in retirement. Your loved one will spend more time at home than ever before, which is why this setting must lay a solid foundation.
There is no single right or wrong solution, except the one that works for your loved one. Senior living communities are great for people who have always enjoyed a strong social life, not least if their spouse has passed. For others, staying at home is the superior choice.
If taking this path, your loved one may still benefit from in-home care. Or it may be necessary to adapt the property with accessibility features. Either way, a home environment that keeps your loved one in good health and happiness will make a huge difference.
2. Teach Them To Keep The Brain Active
As we get older, the body does encounter several changes. People now live longer than ever. So, the impacts of declining cognitive function due to neurodegenerative conditions are huge. Keeping the brain active can slow degeneration. Help your loved one do this.
Brain training games like Freecell are an ideal activity that can be enjoyed daily. Just a few minutes of strategic thinking, problem solving, and pattern recognition can help slow decline. Maintaining a sharp mindset will certainly support your loved one’s quality of life.
Keeping the brain active may also involve completing a part-time job or volunteering. The brain then stays stimulated and engaged in overcoming daily challenges. When combined with the satisfaction it brings, general brain health reaches new heights.
3. Facilitate Physical Exercise
The mantra that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind does not end with retirement. While most seniors are unlikely to run a marathon or play sports like they did back in college, exercise is still vital. As a loving son or daughter, your role is to help them develop winning habits.
Walking, cycling, and swimming are all good low-impact exercises that get them out of the home. Or they could embrace yoga for a home-based workout. A little gardening can also deliver the benefits of physical activity, including reduced stress levels.
Physical exercise will also support bone density and muscle density. Furthermore, it brings some routine back to your parent’s life while also giving them goals to strive for. Enabling them to fall back in love with exercise is one of the greatest gifs you can give.
4. Take Them For Days Out
Getting older changes your perspective on many aspects of life. Perhaps most notably, you gain a deeper appreciation of time spent with loved ones. There are still plenty of opportunities for you to create magical memories together. Days out are the ideal solution.
Selecting days out to attractions that appeal to seniors as well as other family members is key. A day at the beach, botanical gardens, or restaurant are ideal choices. Alternatively, you could look at city tours on buses rather than foot. Comfort need not compromise fun.
Vacations at all inclusive destinations are another very popular choice. Or your could simply collect your parent and bring them home for a garden BBQ or other family celebration. Keeping them included and spending time together will significantly enhance their life.
5. Support Them With Their Finances
Money worries are another hot talking point at all stages of adult life. For seniors, though, adjusting to reduced income can be very difficult. Your assistance could be priceless in helping your loved one make their money last longer. It unlocks a better future and reduces stress.
Firstly, you should help your loved one apply for any support they are eligible for. Financial assistance could mean senior discounts, bus passes, or exemptions from various expenses. When coupled with good organizational skills and timely payments, things look far brighter.
Financial assistance could extend to you giving them money to help pay the bills. However, some will be too proud to let that happen. Encouraging them to sell unneeded assets that they have hoarded is an ideal alternative. The cash injection makes a big impact.
6. Assist Them With Estate Planning
Managing immediate and mid-term financial matters is one thing. But handling long-term monetary situations is another. You must put yourself in your loved one’s shoes and realize that one of their main concerns stems from what happens after they are gone.
Seniors need to know that their estate will be divided to the intended beneficiaries. Speaking to an estate planning attorney could be the ideal solution. They can help your loved one think about trusts and other financial vehicles to protect their loved ones after they pass.
Hopefully, it will be several years before their estate planning desires need to be executed. Nevertheless, lifting this weight of stress from their shoulders is guaranteed to give them increased peace of mind in the years to come.
7. Teach Basic Digital Communication Skills
Loneliness is a common issue for seniors. While social living environments are one potential solution, it’s not always the right choice. Even when it is, your parents will benefit from regaining contact with old friends and extended family members. You can teach them how.
If your loved one is already using devices to play games as mentioned above, that is great. You should then teach them how to use Facebook, as this is the most likely social media platform they will use. Meanwhile, teaching them how to use video call software is another wise move.
Of course, their device can be used for an extensive range of additional activities. Nevertheless, using digital communication to stay in touch with loved ones is one of the most rewarding. Just be sure to teach them about online scams and threats too.
8. Stay Vigilant To Their Health Changes
Your loved one’s body will undergo changes with age, but many seniors ignore them. In some cases, they simply do not want to admit that they need a helping hand. In others, though, they simply do not notice the gradual regression of their health and capabilities.
With this in mind, it is vital that you pay attention. If you spot the signs of hearing loss in your loved one, for example, you should book them in for a hearing test. Likewise, any decline in their vision or mobility should be addressed ASAP. It will enhance their quality of life.
It is also important for them to undergo regular health checks to spot new issues or monitor existing symptoms. A proactive approach gives them the best chance of staying on top of the conditions. In turn, this should support increased health and happiness.
9. Get Them To Discover A Creative Hobby
Boredom can be another problem facing seniors. Even when living in a community environment, they cannot always rely on others for entertainment. Playing games that test the brain is a great starting point, but they also need other activities. Creative hobbies are the answer.
Seniors have the time to throw themselves into artworks, knitting, and other creative tasks. They keep the brain engaged, support dexterity, and offer cheap entertainment. Moreover, the sense of satisfaction gained from looking at a finished piece is simply incredible.
The activity could become a social one too. Or it may even be possible for your loved one to turn the creative task into a side hustle by selling their finished items. Even without those extra features, though, it is one of the most rewarding additions to their life.
10. Live A Good Life
Last but not least, nothing gives a parent greater joy than seeing their family thrive. So, while it’s important to support your parent with the steps above, living your life is equally vital. Paying extra attention to your own health and happiness is essential.
Taking care of your physical and mental health gives you a solid platform to build upon. Meanwhile, you must chase your ambitions in your career as well as your relationship. A social life and other features that provide a better quality of life are equally key.
You can still make time for your parent. Nevertheless, they will love hearing about all the positives in your life. Even when things are not going great, try to reframe things more positively. It is very reassuring for them, which will make them far happier.
The Final Word
Most seniors are capable of handling most aspects of their lives, but will need a helping hand in some areas. As a loving child, you are the one to provide it. Just make sure that you work collaboratively with your loved one and it will deliver better outcomes for all.
