TOP TIPS FOR MAKING A VISIT MORE ENJOYABLE FOR ALL
Let’s be honest. When you have been visiting an elderly parent on a regular basis over a long period of time, it can be hard to keep the conversation ‘fresh’. Especially if the person you are visiting is housebound. You want to see them. It’s really important to you that you check in person that they are happy and healthy, and you know that loneliness can be a killer for the elderly. Your visit might be their lifeline – but making conversation based on a limited number of topics is hard work. Don’t feel guilty; finding it hard at times is normal.
Our advice is this: get planning. Instead of continuing to hope that you’ll come up with new and interesting topics at every visit, think along the lines of activities that you could undertake together. Alternatives to conversation mean that you can both enjoy the visit. You will be present, caring and not worrying that conversation will run dry. So we’ve put together some suggestions to help stimulate conversation.
Old Photographs
Whether your Mum or Dad’s pictures are beautifully arranged in a set of matching albums (most likely) or kept in a shoebox under the bed, old photographs can be a great source of conversation. If they do need sorting out, bring some albums over and spend the time together sticking them in. If they are already organised, ask to see them. You could request to see a specific picture of great Aunt Betty as an excuse. Combing through old albums will bring back happy memories, exercise long term memory, and spark lots of little conversations.
Book Club
Start a mini book club. Find a novel you might both enjoy, set yourselves a target deadline and then discuss the book together. If your parent has trouble reading, borrow an audio CD from the local library that they can listen to instead. You will get an interesting perspective on the story from someone of an older generation, and it could trigger conversation about their own experiences.
Cook together
Next time you are visiting, find out what is their favourite meal. Bring the ingredients along to the following visit and cook the meal together. Eat together too.
Film
If your relative is mobile, think about planning a trip to the cinema. With more time on their hands they can enjoy watching a film during the day when cinemas are quieter. If they are housebound, take something that you could watch together. If a film seems a bit too long, why not get a box set of a TV series they’d enjoy and watch one per week.
Teach them about the internet
If your parent is interested in technology, but has never used it, show them how. Being online will give them access to information and a communication method by which to keep in touch with children and grandchildren. Show them how to find blogs and websites that focus on their interests.
Hopefully this has given you some good ideas. We’d love to hear what you like to do with your parents to keep your visits enjoyable. Drop us a line or post a comment below.
To find out more about how our live-in carers help to keep our clients entertained and comfortable visit our blog post about the day in the life of a carer, call our team on 01403 710119 or email [email protected]