This month, as we celebrate our CaringGivers 10th anniversary, we can’t help but think about the community that has trusted us with senior care throughout the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia). To say that we are thankful is an understatement! What a privilege it is to work with CaringGivers clients, their family members, and their neighbors.
When we work with clients, we form relationships with their loved ones too, fielding questions and offering feedback based on our experience. One of the top questions we get revolves around how to connect with their senior loved one, creating meaningful memories that they all can share.
With Mother’s Day this month, we decided it was the perfect time to give you some inspiration about how to connect with the aging women in your life, as well as how to celebrate them and support them today and for years to come.
The Perfect Gift
When you’re out shopping for your mom, auntie, or even a favorite neighbor, keep in mind their personalities. We are all unique, and while your mom might find a vase of her favorite flowers an excellent gift, your auntie might prefer a plant that she can hang in the corner of her kitchen because it won’t die after a few days.
If you’re looking for gift inspiration for a hard-to-shop-for older woman, here are a few ideas to consider:
- Audible subscription, ideal for the book lover who might find reading too taxing on their vision or who just prefers to keep up with their reading while cleaning the house or taking a stroll.
- Spiritual subscription box, or any subscription box that meets their preferences. Having a box of curated gifts come once a month for 3, 6, or 12 months feels like a gift that keeps giving!
- Grandpad, an easy and safe way to give your loved one technology to stay connected to family and friends.
- Family photos, perfect for any family that hasn’t all gotten together for a professional photo in decades! Find a local photographer and brainstorm a session that meets your loved one’s needs. Taking family photos in your mom’s home is a wonderful gift for everyone. Remember, not everything needs to be formal. A lifestyle photographer can capture moments of you laughing while making dinner, playing cards, or running around in the backyard with the grandkids.
Time Spent Together
Any mom or favorite auntie will love any intentional time spent together, no formal gift is required. Consider planning an activity for the two of you to enjoy together:
- Get manicures at a local salon or have a technician come to the home
- Invite the family over for dinner and cater it with a hibachi chef for a little razzle-dazzle
- Take a walk in a new neighborhood or at a nature preserve you haven’t been to in awhile
- Go shopping at small businesses in your community
- Invite their friends over and host a tea and coffee party, complete with signature drinks and delicious pastries
If your loved one has mobility challenges or medical needs that make you feel nervous, you can always talk to their home care caregiver for advice and support. At CaringGivers, we are there to support you so that you can feel confident taking your loved one out for ice cream or to your favorite picnic spot. We are there to give you verbal instructions or to quietly tag along in order to provide that hands-on assistance to your loved one.
Support So They Can Thrive
No matter how you choose to celebrate the aging women you love this month, remember that the best way you can celebrate them is to get creative and find ways to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving at home for as long as possible. This might include making adjustments to the home, like adding a shower chair or moving a 2nd-floor primary bedroom to the first floor. You might find that adding a meal delivery service, like Meals on Wheels, gives your loved one the freedom to enjoy delicious food without spending the energy preparing it daily.
Home care can also often be an ideal solution to supporting your loved one at home. Services at CaringGivers include assistance with personal care tasks as well as companionship visits, transportation, grocery shopping, and more. Contact us so that we can work with you to find the right services to suit your loved one’s needs.