From your birth till your adulthood, your parents never let go of your hand. But, now that they are older and started to lose some of their independence will you now let go of them?
If you want your elderly parents (or grandparents) o stay healthy, happy and positive, here are some activities that you can get them engaged in.
1. Enjoy Movies and TV shows
Watching a movie or a TV show was always a fun way to bond with your loved ones. Now, it is evident that you need to make a proper choice. I mean, you can’t watch movies like Fifty Shades of Grey or 365 Days with the elders of your house (and of course, these movies are meant to be enjoyed alone).
For example, here is a list of movies that you can watch with your aging loved ones:
- Walk the Line
- The King’s Speech
- The Help
- Lincoln
- Grumpy Old Men
- The Parent Trap
Now, you don’t need to limit yourself to this list or only to family-drama sort of movies. Nowadays, older adults can even enjoy some action-packed or spine-chilling movies. It all depends on their tastes.
It is also recommended to watch some regular TV shows like The Crown, Sherlock or Grace & Frankie as they give you an excuse to have a regular routine and watch something together with your loved ones. Trust me, it will be nice to get lost in a thick twisted plot of a great drama or laugh until you cry over a hysterical comedy.
But, what if the elders are not really fans of movies or TV shows? Well, you can try to find an enthralling documentary based on a topic that they find interesting. And, from food to nature, history, religion and travel, there is now a range of documentaries.
2. Play Games
Whether it concerns your elderly parents or grandparents, you would always want them to be in good health, have a sharp mind and have lots of fun with the family, isn’t it? One way is to make them learn and enjoy some new games.
For instance, you can opt for some brain games like chess and checkers, mahjong, Bridge, crossword puzzles, Sudoku & Jumbles and many more.
Besides, did you know that jigsaw puzzles are good eye-brain exercises? It might also be a good distraction for them. So, what you can do is to choose a picture of their favorite place to travel, type of animal or activity. But, remember to select only a 500 or even 250 piece puzzle instead of a 1000-piece one as such puzzles can usually take days to be completed.
Other fun games to play with aging loved ones include:
- Scrabble
- Trivial Pursuit
- Dominos
- Poker
- Backgammon
- Pinochle
- Bridge
- Rummy
- Go-Fish
- Monopoly
- Bingo
- Yahtzee
3. Read Books
I am sure you must have heard of this saying: “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
Indeed, reading is good for brain health and you will be surprised to learn that reading can also promote longevity.
However, once again, don’t go choosing erotic novels like L.S. Hilton’s Maestra, Audrey Carlan’s Calendar Girl, or Beth Kery’s Sweet Restraint. Instead, you can choose some time treasured classics or even some more recent ones (but make sure they are decent ones if you know what I mean).
Here are some examples:
- Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale
- Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove
- Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
- Alan Bradley’s The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
- Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air
Moreover, there are also audiobooks (if they prefer listening to reading). You can also sign them up for an online/virtual book club group.
4. Writing
What? At this age? Yes, at this age!
Actually, you know what, don’t even think about it. Just give them a pen and paper and ask them to write. You don’t need to be fresh and young or in your mid-forties to become a writer. As claimed by a famous author, “writing…it’s bird by bird (meaning word by word).” So, just let them write what they know and want. Let their stream of consciousness and creativity flow.
You can adopt a child. But you can never adopt a parent. Always remember that parents are irreplaceable and they are the only ones that will stand by your side. Always.
