Clara was looking forward to her granddaughter’s visit. She loved to hear the stories about school and the neighborhood, whether they were good or bad. Lately it seemed that there were more negative stories than good ones and Clara was worried about her granddaughter. It seemed that some of the kids at school were bullying Shanae and this saddened her. Because of this, she asked her son if they could have a regular plan for Clara and Shanae to visit. Clara was mostly homebound, but she was spry, and her mind was sharp. Her son enjoyed watching her interact with Shanae and knew that the relationship brought benefit to the entire family. He dropped Shanae off on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Clara helped with homework, and they visited.
Today was a bit different. Shanae arrived with bright eyes and excited to share something with her grandmother. She reached in her backpack and pulled out a little crocheted creature. “Look Mimi, I got this new kit and learned how to crochet this little guy.” Clara took the creature in her hands and looked it over. Shanae had done a terrific job and Clara told her so. Shanae explained that she saw Mimi’s crocheted blankets and wanted to learn how to do it herself so that they could do projects together. Clara hadn’t picked up her hooks and yarn in many years. She went to grab her supplies and they excitedly talked about projects.
Clara thought the kit was an amazing idea. It had the instructions and the supplies needed and was a great guide for a beginner. She ordered a couple of kits that they could both do, and it turned into their favorite shared pastime. The best days were when it was a cool evening and they sat on the front porch swing working and talking. They made great creations and memories.
An important part of aging is maintaining family relationships. Changes in how grandma or grandpa get around or in their memory can be confusing for grandkids and difficult to deal with. Keeping the closeness as much as possible while aging is good for all involved.
As care managers, we want to make sure that our clients are enjoying their lives, engaging with loved ones, exploring hobbies or activities as they are physically able, and keeping their bodies and minds active. Of course this depends on their unique situation to determine what they are able to enjoy but even those who are homebound, bedbound, or losing cognitive and memory abilities, can still often enjoy activities. If you would like help finding activities or helping your aging family member to have the highest quality of life possible, please reach out to us by phone at 317-300-5454 or email us at Shannon@AgingLifeCareConsultants.com. We specialize in working with our clients and their families to coordinate, advocate for, and enable the best care available.
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