It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
It’s that time of year again when we get to take a minute to breathe, relax and spend time with our loved ones. Since COVID has yet to go away, we still need to be careful with our vulnerable and elderly loved ones.
As I help in the care of my Grandmother, I wanted to share a few tips on how best to care for your own elderly loved ones over the festive season.
Keeping Them Connected
Since the pandemic came to our shores, many of our elderly and more vulnerable in society have had to learn to adapt to use modern technology in order to remain safe and keep in touch with their loved ones.
With the arrival on the new variant of the virus, it is unclear about how deep we will be going into restrictions so it might be a good idea to reconnect and re-share how to use the like of Skype, social media channels and messaging services so that they can keep connected.
Getting Active
It’s easy to put off the walk or the run when the weather is far from delightful. However, it is important to push your elderly loved ones to keep active.
Whether its a walk to the shops, in the park or around the garden its good for circulation, blood pressure and for their mental health.
Brain Games
Christmas is a time where the family is around and its always good to have a laugh with boardgames or even card games. They help to keep the brain active and engaged.
Playing brain teasing games or even working on a puzzle or two can help both you and your elderly loved one stay sharp and keep the brain active.
Time Sharing
One of the best things you can give this Christmas, is your time. Pop the kettle on and share your time and chat with your elderly loved one. Reminisce over past Christmas’s, what you are up to lately or even over a TV show that you both enjoy.
I have personally started a little competition with my Nan over knitting and crochet. Who can knit/crochet the most before the big day and we check in with one another regularly.
Co-ordinating times
No one likes to be alone, especially on Christmas. It’s great when the entire family is around but what do you when everyone has gone home and there are days with no personal contact.
The best way I could possibly think about keeping an eye on and caring for an elderly loved one is with coordinating your time between family members so that they are never alone and always have someone with them. It makes for a great conversation and possibly a gossip session when its your turn again.
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