7 Simple Ways to Cheer Up Your Ageing Parents

Amy Taylor May 31, 2013

Isolation and loneliness are common among the elderly. The realisation of ageing alone already triggers many people to feel lonely. It may be aggravated by the loss of a spouse or a loved one, by the thought of children leaving home, the loss of social connection, the onset of health problems, and reduced vitality. If you notice that your ageing parents are becoming lonelier these days, here are some things you can do to cheer them up:

Keep in touch. Knowing that you’re doing well is enough to put a smile on your parents’ face. If you’re working far from home, make an effort to constantly communicate with them. If you’re used to calling them once or twice a month, make it more often. Schedule at least an hour or two a week to chat with them online, via Skype or any other free video chat service.

Visit them in-person. Nothing beats the joy it brings to your parents to see you in-person, not just hear your voice. Find time to visit them and spend quality time with your parents.

Take them to events they enjoy. If you want to treat your ageing parents, make sure it is something they will enjoy. It’s always fine to ask where they want to go but often, they will just let you decide. To be sure you are going to somewhere they will enjoy, think about the things, events and activities your parents like in the past.

Encourage them to socialise. Most ageing parents choose to confine themselves at home. But this is not healthy for their physical and mental health. Just like you, they also need to socialise with other people, meet new friends and reunite with the old ones. Encourage them to go out and have quality time with friends and relatives. In case they are not tech savvy, teach them how to communicate with friends online. This is really a great idea if your ageing parents are far from their peers or not in good condition to go out.

Plan a holiday get-together. Give them a new beautiful memory to linger on by planning a holiday get-together. Take them somewhere they’d never been to and organise a small party. Maybe you can have picnic with your parents, or try some nature adventure with them.

Encourage them to exercise. Exercising can greatly help your parents overcome some of the conditions that come along with ageing, such as fatigue and mood swing. It can also help protect their heart from disease (which is very common among the elderly). Along with exercise, make sure that they are having proper diet as well and are religiously taking medications or undergoing therapies required by their doctors.

Check out community resources for the elderly. You want your parents to get easy access to support groups and other community resources where they can have the opportunity to connect with other people and make friends, and where they can engage in productive and health-friendly leisure activities.

Your parents took care of you when you were young. And even though they are no longer able to do some of the things they did for you while you were just a kid, the love they have for you remains the same. Helping them ease the loneliness that comes along with ageing is one of the best things you can do to show them that you care and love them so, so much.

Do you think natural therapies can help improve the quality of life of ageing parents? If yes, in what way? Share your insights by posting a comment below.