BlueDot Cares

Category: Fun Craft/Activities Ideas

  • Staycations Your Senior Parent Will Love

    Staycations Your Senior Parent Will Love

    Traveling gets hard as you age. Rushing to catch the next plane. Remembering to grab all your bags as you exit security checks. Walking for hours when you have limited mobility is equally challenging. If your senior parent simply cannot stand long trips anymore, plan a staycation. Here are some staycation ideas that are perfect for the senior crowd.

    Senior Care Gastonia NC - Staycations Your Senior Parent Will Love
    Senior Care Gastonia NC – Staycations Your Senior Parent Will Love

    Travel to Another Country Without Leaving the Patio

    Gather the family and plan a trip to another country without leaving your mom and dad’s patio or deck. Potluck is easy to do. Everyone brings an appetizer, dessert, or entree from the country your parents choose. Download a musical artist that comes from that country and buy decorations that set the stage.

    For example, if your parents choose Hawaii, get some leis, coconut cups, and tiki torches at a discount store. Have everyone bring a Polynesian dish of their choosing. Make a pitcher of non-alcoholic Blue Hawaii mocktails. Play ukelele music and try your hand at hula dancing. After the meal, head inside for a movie or documentary that’s filmed in Hawaii.

    Go Camping

    Take your parents camping without leaving the yard. Set up a grill where you can have a “campfire” for roasting hot dogs on sticks and then make s’mores after. Spray the perimeter of the yard with mosquito repellent to keep them away. Look at the stars and tell stories around the fire. When they’re tired, they can retire into their comfortable bed.

    Create Your Own Film Festival

    If the weather isn’t ideal for being outside, host a film festival in your parents’ living room. Pick a theme, such as movies released the year you were born or the year they got married, and get a list ready. Call the local library to see if they have movie loans, if not find the movies on Netflix or rent them from a service like Red Box. Make lots of popcorn, buy candy, and stock up on drinks. Settle in for an afternoon and evening of watching movies together.

    While your parents may not be up to traveling anymore, you want to go but worry about leaving them for a week or two. Call a senior home care agency and discuss the benefit of caregivers. While you take a much-needed vacation, caregivers can take care of your mom and dad. You’ll get reports and know that your parents are in good hands, which allows you to really enjoy your time away.

    If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Senior Services in Gastonia NC, please call the caring staff at BlueDot Cares today, (704) 586-9248.

  • Gardening Tips for Seniors with Mobility Problems

    Gardening Tips for Seniors with Mobility Problems

    Gardening is a great hobby for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors and get some light exercise, especially seniors. However, those with mobility issues may find it difficult to garden in the typical way. Does that mean gardening doesn’t have a place in senior care? Not at all! There are plenty of ways seniors can get in on this delightful warm weather activity.

    Homecare Weddington NC - Gardening Tips for Seniors with Mobility Problems
    Homecare Weddington NC – Gardening Tips for Seniors with Mobility Problems

    Tabletop Gardening

    This is a simple and easy solution for seniors that have trouble bending or kneeling. Placing box planters and gardening tools on a waist-high table makes it easier to stand and work. For those who cannot stand for a while or are wheelchair-bound, use tables that are appropriate height for sitting without having to stretch too far. Another option is to find a table with adjustable legs to meet their needs on any given day.

    Shade Gardening

    As the weather gets hotter, it may be more health conscious to move gardening activities into shaded areas or inside altogether. To make this easier, try using tables and bins with wheels so you can move plants and tools with ease. Be sure to use objects that have lockable wheels or other mechanisms to keep them in place while in use. When you’re done gardening, you can then easily roll plants back outside into their preferred areas for sunlight.

    Making Easier Tools

    Some gardening tools may be difficult to use for seniors with movement problems such as arthritis. Luckily, many tools can be adapted for use by those with disabilities. Tape, PVC pipe, and foam padding can help improve the grip and length of tool handles. Gloves with rubber grips can also help seniors get a better handle on things. If you’re not handy, there are many ergonomic and lightweight tools available at hardware stores designed just for these purposes too.

    What To Do In Your Garden

    Gardening is way more than just planting seeds. It can be a great mental and sensory activity too. Many people find the act of regularly watering and pruning their plants to be relaxing. It can increase feelings of well-being, decreasing levels of anxiety and depression.

    The act of touching, smelling, and seeing the bright colors of flowers can also be a great memory stimulant. Taking care of plants together with a caregiver also enhances relationships and can help seniors feel more socially connected. It’s also a wonderful activity to do with children to help them connect with their elders.

    Getting Help

    If you’re concerned about gardening being an appropriate activity for a senior, it’s important to consult with a professional. Discuss adding gardening to your senior homecare routine with the family doctor or other medical professionals involved in their homecare. Occupational therapists or other homecare professionals can also provide tips and advice to suit your senior’s individual needs. Also consider contacting your local community gardening groups to see if they have any tips or programs for seniors or those with disabilities!

    Source:  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/gardening-people-with-disabilities

    If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Homecare Services in Weddington NC, please call the caring staff at BlueDot Cares today, (704) 586-9248.