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3 Ways You Can Be More Involved in Your Senior Loved One’s Life

Author: Amitava Sarkar
by Amitava Sarkar
Posted: May 07, 2015

Once your senior loved one moves into a health and rehab center, he becomes a part of a new community that embraces him into the fold and can keep him company around the clock. You, meanwhile, still have work, family and other commitments to keep you busy. If you pick the right health and rehab center, your senior loved one is likely happier and busier than ever – but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to see her family and friends. Make the time to have meaningful experiences with your senior loved one and his peers on a regular basis so you don’t lose that connection you had with him growing up.

The best health and rehab centers welcome participation from friends and family, and if you don’t think the place you’ve chosen does that or offers enough for your loved one to do, you should look into a non-profit center that does. Non-profits are not only among the most affordable places for seniors on a limited budget to move into because all proceeds go back into the running of the center, but they’re also some of the best places when it comes to family and friends still being a meaningful presence in a senior’s life.

Volunteer at a Health and Rehab Center

Ask about becoming a volunteer at the health and rehab center at which your loved one resides – or if you live across the country from him, at a local one nearby. The best centers are always looking for people to engage with their residents by playing games like BINGO, doing crafts, exercising, playing music, gardening, entertaining, escorting on off-campus trips and spending one-on-one time with residents. Being there getting to know your loved one’s new friends will make you a valuable part of all of their lives. If you’re volunteering at a place in honor of your loved one who lives across the country, you can use what you learn by spending time with seniors to be a more dynamic and fun visitor when you are able to see your loved one in person.

Donate

If you can’t give of your time, support the center at which your senior loved one resides financially. Non-profit centers especially are in need of funds to be able to offer their residents more activities and hold annual events like luncheons. Letting your loved one know you’re sponsoring her activities is sure to bring a smile to her face.

Arrange Frequent Video Chats

Whether you live in another city or state or you simply don’t have a lot of time to spare, if you can’t visit your loved one in person, you can at least check in with him via video chat. A number of health and rehab centers have video chat set up for residents to use, so someone there should be able to assist your loved one. If he prefers voice-only phone calls or letters, try to accommodate. Check in with your loved one at least a few times per week and fill each other in on all of your most exciting activities.

As long as you spend time with your senior loved one, it doesn’t matter so much what you do – but that you’re there doing it. If there’s a great distance between you, be active in your own community and take what you learn from the seniors around you to become a more supportive friend or family member to the senior in your life.

About the Author: Justin Santos works with seniors at a community center in Georgia. He recommends anyone looking for a supportive home for a senior visit http://www.agrhodes.org/.

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Author: Amitava Sarkar

Amitava Sarkar

Member since: Nov 27, 2014
Published articles: 349

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