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One of the hardest things about growing up is watching your parents grow old. With age, they develop health issues and struggle with IADLs and ADLs. As a result, they become vulnerable and often seek extra attention and care.
If you are an adult child and struggling to let your parents know that you love them, you’re in the right place!
This blog post will discuss how to show love to your aging parents. Here are some simple everyday gestures to show affection to your parents!
How to Show Love to Your Aging Parents: 7 Everyday Gestures
Now let’s look at these 7 everyday gestures that can help you express your love for your elderly parents.
Give Them a Call
The first thing you can do to make your aging parents feel loved is pick up the phone and call them. You might be very busy with work and other aspects of life! But hearing someone’s voice will lift their spirits even if it only lasts for a few minutes! It doesn’t need to happen every day. Once in a while would work great too.
It would show that you care and think of them. Also, you can ask your parents how they are doing. It will help you know what is going on in their life. Maybe it will even provide insight into more ways to be there for them.
Help Maintain Their Medication Schedule
With age comes various health concerns. For example, many people deal with memory problems as they age. So it can be very easy for them to forget about their medication schedule. So this is one way you can care for your aging parents by ensuring that they take their medications on time.
If they have multiple prescriptions, you can set up a schedule where all medicines are dispensed at once. So, they do not have to remember when each one should be taken. It also ensures that they won’t be running out of their medication.
Give Them a Gift Box
Not everything is transactional, but you can give your aging parents gifts they need or like. It doesn’t even have to be expensive! It could be a bag of their favorite tea or a gardening tool kit. If you are confused about what to choose, ask around to see what they like. Or sit down with your parents and ask if they have any requests for a specific item.
You can also include a note with your gift to let them know how much you appreciate them! It would be an incredibly thoughtful gesture that they will never forget. This may seem small, but it could mean the world to them when no one else is around.
Offer to Run Errands
Offering help with everyday tasks is an excellent way to show love to your aging parents. You may not know what they need, so ask when unsure. Offer up help doing basic tasks such as grocery shopping or small chores around the house.
You can also offer to take them to different places like doctor appointments. Or take them for a stroll around town if they’re still mobile enough. Just make sure that this doesn’t put too much stress on their body and cause more problems.
Again, asking is always better than assuming. You would not want your parents to feel more vulnerable than they already do. So do not overdo anything and be there if they need help.
Show Physical Affection
Physical affection can provide comfort to anyone going through a rough time. It can be as simple as hugging them, holding their hand, or giving them a pat on the back when you say goodbye after visiting them.
This is a crucial step because this kind of affection does not always come easily for everyone. That is especially with seniors who may feel awkward at first. Always remember where their comfort level lies and respect that.
Spend Quality Time
There is no alternative to quality time when showing love to your loved ones. Whether you go out or watch television shows that they like. All these activities will help strengthen your relationship even further. This is because of how valuable shared time is for your parents.
In other words, be present! Do not just pop over once every month. Instead, try to spend an hour or two each week doing things that make everyone happy. Also, listen to their concerns or stories they share. It will help both you and your parents feel more connected.
Celebrate Their Special Days
It always feels nice when someone remembers your special days. Celebrate your parent’s birthdays, wedding anniversary, or retirement day. You don’t always have to do something grand. Send some flowers or show up with a cake along with your family.
When you go out of your way to celebrate these special times, it can really mean a lot to them! They might not say it, but they will appreciate the effort.
Conclusion
Aging is often a challenging process. You may not always know how to show love to your aging parents. But making these everyday gestures may have an incredible impact on their well-being. So cherish your parents when they are still around. You won’t regret it!
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