20 Great Things To Help Keep Seniors Interested And Connected

Online, March 30, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Once the finances and medical issues have been addressed and are under control, a challenge families, friends, and trustees often face as caregivers is keeping elderly friends and relatives interested and involved with the world around them. Eddy & Schein In-Home Administrators for Seniors has developed 20 ideas which you may find useful.
Identify the activities a senior likes and create adaptive means to make them happen. If aides are involved, look for ones who are open to participating in the chosen activities.
1. Find ways to get out and get engaged - a walk to the park, a wheelchair ride to visit the local pet shop or dog run, clothes shopping (even if items cannot be tried on in the store).
2. Locate a senior center or Y that has classes or activities for senior citizens. Make sure there is a good transportation system to get there.
3. If the senior has sufficient assistance, consider adopting a small dog or cat from a shelter. Have a back-up plan for the pet if the senior is no longer able to care for him or her.
4. Enroll in an art class or arrange for an art therapist to come into the home and give some drawing lessons or art appreciation classes.
5. Order large-print newspapers for a person with diminished eyesight, or get a magnifying glass or electronic reader for enhanced vision. E-books like Kindle or Nook work for some and the print can be increased substantially. Books on tape are another alternative as long as the machine is easy to use or an aide can help.
6. Cook together and adapt to the senior's circumstances. If in a wheelchair, let him or her sit at a table and do certain tasks. Encourage the senior to give cooking tips or share favorite recipes.
7. Purchase concert, opera, or theater tickets. Get two tickets, or more, so that a friend and/or aide may go. Think about sitting up close if eyesight or hearing is a problem. Call ahead to arrange for storage of walker or wheelchair during the performance.
8. Get a local music student to come to the home and play for the senior and friends.
9. Find a vintage movie theater and go to see an old movie together. If that's not possible, make sure there is access to movie channels on TV.
10. Get a large flat screen TV so it is easier to see and be involved in shows and movies. There are amplifier devices that can be purchased so the sound is not too loud for others in the room.
11. If the senior has difficulty going out, arrange for a physical therapist who specializes in the elderly to come to the home each week.
12. Involve the senior in the daily running of the household. Take him or her to the grocery story to pick out favorite food and supplies. Small trips with a grocery basket held on the lap while someone pushes the wheelchair works well.
13. Make sure the senior gets to family gatherings. This may involve special car service plans for trips outside of town as an alternative to previous modes of transportation.
14. Be sure to involve the senior in conversations - even if you have to speak a little loudly. If a senior resists getting a hearing aid, suggest a small easily held amplifier with a microphone attached to headphones (there are lots of headphone varieties). This can make conversations much easier for both parties.
15. Check on local car services and set up an account so that the senior has easy transportation around town and doesn't have to worry about having cash each time.
16. Look for special exhibits at museums that you could both go to. Almost all museums can be accessed with a wheelchair, if necessary. Don't forget the Botanical Garden, Zoo, and Aquarium.
17. Talk to the elderly person about life as a child growing up. It's amazing the first-hand knowledge of history he or she will have. It will be a time of exploration for both of you.
18. Look at old photographs together. Reminisce.
19. Identify important memories and find representative symbols (like a hat or sweater with a favorite school logo) that will bring ongoing pleasure.
20. Go out to a local restaurant that is accessible. If the senior has an aide, this is a nice way to show appreciation to the aide as well, or a time to give the aide a chance to be alone.
Eddy & Schein In-Home Administrators for Seniors manages and coordinates personal, financial, legal, and health insurance matters for seniors and others-right in the individual's own residence. Eddy & Schein works almost exclusively with the elderly because they understand their circumstances, their needs, and how to help them manage their tasks. E&S has the skill sets to coordinate complex administrative matters-and the patience to help seniors perform these tasks with dignity.