As much as you enjoy spending time with your senior loved one, you cannot always be with him or her. Your loved one may need to spend some time in a hospital or rehabilitation facility, or you may have to leave town for a while to tend to other important matters. One of the best ways to make your loved one feel special is to prepare a care package for him or her. Here are a few items you can add to the care package.
1. Books
Aging adults tend to feel bored more often than their younger counterparts. By adding books, cards, or crossword puzzles to the care package, you can help your loved one stave off boredom and keep his or her mind sharp. Make sure to look for books and crossword puzzles in large print if your loved one has impaired vision.
2. Snacks
If your loved one cannot go out to buy groceries, consider including snacks in his or her care package. Cookies, candy, fruits, nuts, and other similar items make perfect options for snacks. Avoid items that will spoil easily or need to be refrigerated, and consider whether or not your loved one has special dietary needs, such as sugar-free snacks for diabetics.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Senior Stride Home Care, a trusted provider of home care service. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.
3. Photos
When you take photos of yourself or your kids, you probably post them on social media. However, your loved one may not have a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account. If the two of you live far apart, your loved one probably misses seeing you and watching your children grow up. Make sure to include family photos in your care package so your loved one can see them. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, you can also include his or her childhood photos in the care package. Going through old photographs can help your loved one recall memories.
4. Nightwear
Your loved one might appreciate robes, slippers, pajamas, or cozy nightgowns to sleep in. Consider adding nightwear to the care package to ensure your loved one is warm and comfortable. Avoid buying garments that might feel too tight or itchy.
5. Personal Hygiene Items
These items are also excellent additions to a care package, and they may range from necessities like soap and shampoo to fun items such as perfumed lotion and cosmetics. Find out what your loved one’s favorite brands are, or consider treating your parent to a premium brand he or she wouldn’t usually buy.
If your aging loved one needs occasional help with bathing, grooming, cooking, or other basic household tasks, or if you need time to attend to important personal matters, reach out to Senior Stride Home Care, a leading provider of live-in and respite care. Oshkosh seniors can maintain their independence while living at home with the help of our reliable respite caregivers.
6. Music Options
Listening to music can bring a smile to your loved one’s face and boost his or her emotional health. Consider purchasing an inexpensive iPod and adding your loved one’s favorite songs to it. You can also buy a basic tablet for $100 or less and add music apps such as Spotify or Pandora.
Receiving a care package can boost a senior’s mood, but it’s also important for older adults to have regular interaction with other people. If your loved one needs more opportunities for socialization in his or her life, a professional caregiver is the perfect solution. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of senior home care. Oshkosh families can rely on Senior Stride Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. Call one of our Care Managers at 920-717-1767 to learn about our customized in-home care plans.