5 Ways to Keep Your Elderly Parent Engaged This Winter

Of the 34 millionAmericans over 65 years of age, more than 2 million suffer from depression. Winter is a time when many seniors become more isolated because weather conditions make travel difficult. This combination of depression and isolation can be very hard at this dark, cold time of year. If you would like to help your senior relative stay engaged and feel less lonely, use these tips.

1. Set up a Regular Visit Time

Visit your parent on a regular basis. Many seniors do best when they maintain a routine, so set up a regular visit time that does not interfere with other activities like meal time, bedtime, or naps. Bring healthy snacks to eat or games to play. Coming prepared will make the visit more rewarding for both of you.

If your parent is living in a senior community, the community may have specific visiting times. Check with the property management company to find out what the visiting times are, so you won't have to go home or cut your visit short.

2. Attend Community Events Together

Check the schedules at your local community theater, civic center, and senior centers for indoor community events like plays, ballets, bingo games, contests, and home shows. Look for events that happen during the day so as to not interfere with your parent's bedtime routine or dinner plans.

If your parent is living in a senior community, it likely has events on-site that you two could attend together. Find out the schedule, and then let your parent pick the events that sound most meaningful to them.

3. Offer Rides to See Friends

Many seniors are isolated because they're afraid to drive (or cannot drive safely) and can no longer see friends. This is especially true in winter when the roads become icy and weather gets very cold. In a typical Illinois winter, below-freezing temperatures can isolate seniors for days or even weeks.

Offer your parent rides to see friends and relatives. Stay to visit yourself, or drop them off and come back when the visit is over.

If your parent lives in their own house, this might be a good time to talk about moving to a senior living facility where seniors can live among their peers. This will make it easier for your parent to make friends nearby and will reduce some of the burden you may feel to drive them around.

4. Watch Movies Together

Stop by over an afternoon to watch a movie together. Since you're trying to combat any feelings of isolation that your parent might be feeling, keep the movie lighthearted. Your parent might enjoy a comedy or a musical. To ensure that you both enjoy the movie, ask your parent to suggest some titles, and then you can pick your favorite among the suggestions.

Find out if your parent would like to invite friends to watch movies with you. If your parent lives in a senior community, it should be easy enough for your parent's friends to drop by. If your parent lives alone, you may need to pick them up on your way in.

5. Help Your Relative With Internet Communication

Many seniors struggle to use computers and email. Still, email is a good way for your parent to maintain contact with those who are far away. If your parent has a desktop or laptop computer, you may need to help your parent use it. If your parent does not have a computer of their own, offer to bring over a laptop and help them use it.

At Robert Cottingham Property Management, we help seniors like your parent enjoy life and stay engaged. If your parent currently lives on one of our properties, call today to find out more.