Kim Volker, a certified nursing assistant, is a Lifestyle Coordinator at Care is There. Her passion for acting as an advocate for the elderly and helping seniors in the community live life to the fullest has given her a unique insight into the small ways we can improve our loved ones’ lives. She shares one such tip with us today!
For a parent or loved one who doesn’t always remember the happy moments in their day, I suggest keeping a journal. This does not have to be anything fancy; a simple composition book works great. This journal is dictated to the caregiver, who writes down exactly what is said. As the caregiver, you should try to encourage them to share feelings they had throughout the day, visitors they saw and activities they did.
These writings are a great way for visiting family members or friends to remind your loved one of the many friends they have, the activities they still enjoy and more. They are a written account of the great things in life that they love so very much!
An example of a journal entry:
“Today I woke up feeling a little tired. I got out of bed and had a nice shower. Then breakfast was great! Maria fixed oatmeal with raisins, my favorite! I helped fold laundry and decided to organize my closet. That was quite a chore; I will have to finish another day.
My neighbor, Opal, stopped in; we sat on the porch and talked about her son’s upcoming wedding. Opal stayed for lunch with me… we had turkey and provolone sandwiches with fresh strawberries. She will visit again next week. I enjoy her company.
I talked with my son on the phone. He is enjoying time away from work in the mountains. He says the weather is perfect and he will visit soon with amazing pictures.
This afternoon, after my nap, I wrote some thank you notes to a few friends who came over for refreshments after church on Sunday. I plan to have a few friends over on Thursday before dinner. I am continuing to work on my painting for my granddaughter’s house warming gift. I hope to get this finished soon.
I decided to stay for home dinner. I had black bean soup and a fresh spinach salad with key lime pie and raspberries for dessert. This has been a great day.”
Encourage your loved one to share their daily stories and even their trials – it is a great way to show them how amazing life is, no matter where they are in their journey.
For more articles like this, see: Long Distance Caregiving, Aging in Place, Care for the Caregiver, Communicating with Senior Citizens.
Do you need help managing the care of an elderly loved one in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, or Staunton Virginia or in Kansas City or Overland Park, Kansas?
Contact us at Care is There Geriatric Care Management for a free consultation: 800.434.1633 or info@careisthere.com. We specialize in geriatric care management, support for independent living, assisted living enhancement and peace of mind for long distance caregivers.
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