Every August, the United States honors the contributions of seniors with the celebration of National Senior Citizens Day (August 21). Originally conceived as an unofficial holiday by Joseph J. Goodwin in the 1950s, Senior Citizens Day has grown to encompass the entire country. The celebration gained official status when Ronald Reagan recognized the day in 1988.
Make National Seniors Day in 2016 special for your loved ones by trying one of these three fun activities.
Collect Stories
Anyone involved in elderly home care in Delaware County will tell you that many seniors love to tell stories from their youth. Take the time to sit down and listen to your loved ones’ stories, and collect the best ones. Record the tales with your phone or camera, and add pictures or video clips to enhance the story. You will be left with a moving documentary-style collection that relates your loved ones’ personal history; you can share the final version with them and others.
Cook Together
Many seniors who receive elderly home care in Delaware County are unable to cook meals for themselves on a regular basis. Sometimes seniors just forget to eat or find it too much trouble. On National Senior Citizens Day, bring your loved one to your home, or bring the materials you need to make a favorite family recipe to your loved one. Spending time together over a hot stove is a great way to converse, share stories, and build memories. Your loved one may even share other recipes that they enjoy. Another food-related idea is to have family members bring dishes for a big potluck meal at your senior loved one’s home.
Introduce Your Loved One to Technology
The days of intimidated seniors hiding from technology are over. A huge number of seniors have smartphones or mobile devices they use to access the internet, and seniors enjoy communicating with friends and family through these devices. Spend a few hours and help your loved one create a social media account or set up a Skype chat, so they can communicate with you easily all year long.
National Seniors Citizens Day is a time each year when you can show your senior loved ones just how much they mean to you. Capitalize on the opportunity and build strong memories that will last you and your loved ones a lifetime.
Caring for seniors can be difficult for working families, and you may sometimes feel as though your loved one needs more support than you can provide. Neighborly Home Care provides a helping hand with elderly home care in Delaware County. Neighborly Home Care enables your loved ones to experience greater freedom and independence than they could have alone. Contact Neighborly Home Care today for more information about elderly care services and other options.