In August, Home Helpers corporate launched a campaign called Send a Senior a Smile in an effort to spread more love and kindness to aging adults across the country.
While our professional caregivers are experts at bringing smiles to the faces of seniors on a daily basis, it occurred to Damey and me that many people may not feel as comfortable interacting with seniors, and they may not know how they can send a senior a smile.
It’s really not as challenging as you might think. With a little help from AgingCare, Damey and I have compiled a short list of ways you can bring a smile to a special senior someone’s face without spending money.
- Listen and Learn. Mature adults have been around the block more than a few times, and they have endured very different situations in their time that the majority of us have not. Engage in casual conversation with seniors in your life and you will get tons of wisdom and lots of stories and smiles as they recall special memories of their past.
- Look at photos and mementos. We don’t know a single senior who does not enjoy reminiscing over photos, souvenirs, and mementos. Even seniors with memory issues due to Alzheimer’s or dementia find joy when looking at pictures from long ago. (As a rule, the more severe a loved one’s memory issues are, the older the pictures should be.)
- Dance! “The combination of light physical touch, upbeat music and a smiling caregiver can work wonders. Uplifting music from an era the elder enjoys along with good companionship can often bring a grumpy or withdrawn loved one out of their shell.”
- Play games, work on puzzles, or do other activities together. Many changes occur physically and mentally as we age. However, activities that seniors find interesting can break the cycle of boredom and provide hours of entertainment. “Board games, card games, puzzles, crafts, cooking, gardening, and countless other hobbies can be tailored to fit all ability levels. Elders with limited mobility, low vision, dementia, hearing loss, and many other age-related conditions can remain active and engaged by adapting the activities themselves and/or using assistive equipment to participate. Focus on striking a balance and finding something to do together that is meaningful and engaging yet easily managed.”
- Let them be themselves. Seniors can certainly be set in their ways. After all, we are creatures of habit. If your senior loved one chooses to complain about circumstances or people, let them complain, but don’t take their disgruntlement personally. “Cheerfully agree that ‘people are terribly inconsiderate.’ Don’t blame. Don’t argue. Let the grumbles and objections float by unless, of course, there is a reason to be concerned. Just be sure to keep an eye out for more serious indicators of an underlying physical or mental health issue that could be impacting their moods and/or behavior.”
If your schedule prohibits you from spending time with your senior loved ones, Home Helpers® is an in-home care agency that employs professional caregivers who can provide companionship, love, and support for them with the goal of making their life easier and more enjoyable each and every day. Damey and I are happy to schedule a FREE consultation at your convenience to assess specific needs and determine ways we can help your special senior someone smile. 330.892.9329
Home Helpers® Canton, OH, is Veteran-owned and operated. We are honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice Award, the Shooting Star Award (2011), and multiple Platinum awards for the superior level of care we provide. We are Certified Senior Advisors and members of the Home Care Association of America, Alzheimer’s Association, and the International Franchise Association. In addition, we were ranked in the Top 500 Franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2019.
Home Helpers® Canton proudly serves male and female seniors in Stark County, Portage County, and portions of Summit County including the communities of Akron, Alliance, Canton, East Sparta, Hartville, Jackson, Massillon, Navarre, North Canton, Randolph, and surrounding areas.
Source:
AgingCare
