5 Simple Ways to Keep Your Loved One Happy and Engaged at Home
In order to keep your senior loved one holistically healthy, it’s important to engage them mentally,emotionally, and physically. Thankfully, keeping your senior loved one happy and engaged doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive or elaborate.
Simple activities that your loved one enjoys—like chess, cooking easy meals, or even sitting outside on the porch—can be life-changing.
In this article from Visiting Angels of Chelsea, we’ll cover five practical ways to keep your loved one happy and active at home!
Encourage Daily Walks or Gentle Exercise
Even a brief walk around their neighborhood can support your loved one’s physical health and lift their spirits. Walking encourages circulation, improves balance, and provides an opportunity for fresh air.
Chelsea, MA, offers numerous parks and scenic walking paths to make these journeys even more enjoyable!
Create a Personalized Routine for Social Time
Social connections are vital for mental and emotional health, especially for seniors who may experience isolation. Creating a regular schedule for social activities, even if it's virtual, can lift their mood and offer something to look forward to each week.
Help your senior loved one use video chat apps to connect with family members or friends, or schedule times for your loved one to visit these people. A weekly club or activity group can also provide a regular event for your loved one to look forward to each week!
Plan Engaging Activities Like Puzzles or Crafts
Mental stimulation is also a key element of senior wellness. Activities like puzzles or crafts are fantastic ways to engage seniors. Jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, knitting, or other crafts can keep the mind sharp and help with attention to detail. These activities encourage creativity, focus, and dexterity, giving seniors a rewarding and fun way to spend their time.
Crafting or completing a puzzle can be a great solo activity, but it’s also an opportunity for family members to join in, creating an interactive experience. With a collaborative creative endeavor, your loved one can stretch both mental and social muscles!
Get Creative in the Kitchen
If your loved one is able, consider inviting them to help in the kitchen! Preparing a meal together, even if it’s just baking cookies or making a sandwich, can be a bonding experience.
Cooking offers much-needed sensory stimulation, from smelling ingredients to feeling different textures. This is also a great opportunity to bond with your loved one by revisiting favorite family recipes or creating new traditions in the kitchen.
Sharing time in the kitchen also opens up moments to chat, laugh, and reminisce.
Reminisce with Photo Albums or Music
For many seniors, their memories are a place full of joy and nostalgia. Bringing out old photo albums or playing music from their younger years can be a wonderful way to engage their memory and emotions.
These nostalgic moments often spark discussions about long-forgotten stories, offering you another chance to deepen your bond with your senior loved one.
Music, in particular, has a special way of transporting us into the moment and can be a wonderful tool for sparking your loved one’s memory and creativity.
Learn More With a Free Home Care Consultation!
If you would like to find out more about how our caregivers at Visiting Angels of Chelsea can help your loved one stay engaged and excited, reach out to our team today via our online contact form or by phone at 617-409-9039.
We can send a professional caregiver to your home to speak with you and your loved one about all of our home care services. Whether your loved one needs regular assistance with daily life, a compassionate companion, or someone to assist during an especially challenging time, our Angels are ready to help!