You understand the importance of having a diverse range of life experiences. They've contributed to the creation of who you are now. You can only imagine the wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and experience that your elders can impart to you. While helping with elders, you will benefit just as much as they will, and you will be able to learn a great deal in the process.
For elders, we've prepared some suggestions for various ways to provide a helping hand, an ear to listen, or your skills—from reminiscing to creating new memories. Remember that sometimes the most valuable gift you can give is just your time and conversation.
Pay a visit to a senior living facility.
The act of spending quality time with someone who lives in an assisted living facility is one of the most valuable things you can do for them. When visiting a neighbor, loved one, or new acquaintance, make the most of your time by making preparations in advance of your visit. If you want to drop by, call ahead to arrange a time or organize frequent visits that your buddy will look forward to. Bring a board game or deck of cards, a care box, a film, or a home-baked goodie to share with the group.
However, even if your days are packed to the brim, a simple hello might make someone's day better. More ideas can be found in our welcoming guest package.
Make contact with people in your community.
There's a good chance that there are elderly people in your local community who may benefit from your assistance.
Some seniors' health conditions make it difficult for them to get out and socialize. Maintain their sense of belonging by paying them a visit, giving them a meal to share, or renting their favorite movie for you to watch together.
Offer to conduct errands for elderly people who are unable to drive themselves. Make it a weekly habit, and let them know that they can call on you whenever they need you to help them. Also, you may bring them along with you on your bike ride around town so that they can get out of the home while also getting to know you better.
Many tasks around the house don't necessitate the services of a professional handyman. Offer to rake leaves in the fall, shovel the driveway in the winter, and address minor problems around the house.
Be someone's companion
If you don't have a parent or grandparent of your own who need more assistance, there are lots of elderly people who would welcome your company! In addition, there are several programs and organizations that help pair you up with the ideal companion in your neighborhood.
When you join the Elder Helpers program, you can volunteer in a variety of ways that suit your interests and abilities, ranging from reading to handicrafts.
Senior Companions is a Senior Corps initiative that recruits volunteers over the age of 55 to serve as companions. You may volunteer to assist older adults with their everyday duties, allowing them to remain independent and in their own homes.
The National Council on Aging, for example, provides opportunities for volunteers to assist elders in their golden years.
Continue your education throughout your life.
You should always ask yourself what you can learn from your elder buddy, whether you are in the nursing home or at a neighbor's or loved one's house. You may be surprised by how much you can learn from them. While they've most certainly accumulated a collection of anecdotes over the years, it might be difficult to know just what to ask in order to kick-start a conversation. Here are some suggestions to persuade people to start reminiscing—and the excellent stories to start pouring.
Find out what they are passionate about: Does your friend enjoy cooking? Inviting them to share a favorite family recipe is a good idea. Do they have a passion for singing or drawing? Ask them to demonstrate for you. Identify their areas of interest and they will almost certainly embrace the opportunity to talk about it (and perhaps even get creative!) about it.
Find out about their abilities: If you don't already know what type of job your acquaintance had, find out about it! Inquire about their most important lessons learned or their fondest memories. Don't forget to inquire about their talents and interests outside of the workplace, such as sewing, woodworking, and writing, among other things. To request that they teach you a thing or two, send them an email.
Keep a journal of your memories: Bring a picture album, scrapbook, or notebook with you on your next visit, and urge your buddy to sit with you and compile their memories. Make use of narration, images, subtitles, drawings, and other techniques. In little time at all, you'll be converting their oral histories into a written history book!
Create a piece of artwork: Make a few pages from your memory book into wall art for their room by cutting them out. Simply photocopy the most memorable pages, complete with images and captions, and hang them up so that your buddy may continue to reminisce about the good times. In addition, the brightly colored pages and photographs are guaranteed to light up any environment.
