Summer is a great time to get away with family and friends, especially after being separated for the past couple of years. Any getaway takes some planning, but traveling with an older loved one requires additional forethought and flexibility. But with a little extra consideration you and your loved one do not need to miss out on the fun.
How do you best prepare for a trip with an older adult?
Parents usually love watching their children play. We enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces and often watch the joy spread from one child to another as they play, laugh and simply have fun. No one has to tell children to play or have fun. It’s in their nature to let go and be carefree. So often, children seek attention such as a hug, a conversation, game time, a walk around the block or a bike ride. They can make anything fun and sometimes messy. And guess what, that’s okay. As the parental saying goes, “it will wash off.”
How would you define fun? I’m talking about true fun, not just something idle or frivolous, or something that is marketed as being something you cannot live without.
Having fun and finding joy is all part of good self-care. Fun increases our resilience and lifts our spirits. It can open up the creative parts of our mind that allow us to see our situation from a different perspective.
When was the last time you felt truly alive—when you felt deep joy, experienced an unmistakable bond and were fully engaged? You might be struggling to think of a recent time, or even if it was, it could feel like it was more of an isolated event than a regular occurrence. That’s okay. You are not the only one.
Do you ever feel like time is standing still? That one day is just rolling into another and life feels dull? Caring for an older loved one can feel very much like that. Caregiving can be a life of routine, sameness, monotony and boredom. The everyday mundane tasks begin to take a toll on our emotional, mental and physical health.
Whether you become a caregiver gradually, or suddenly due to a crisis; whether you are a caregiver willingly or by default, taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of someone else. It’s difficult to set boundaries with our loved ones, family and friends, but learning to set boundaries is a sign of self-care and self-respect.
The decision to move a loved one into a long-term care facility will be one of the hardest decisions you make, especially if you’ve made the promise to keep your loved one at home. It is not uncommon for a loved one say, “Promise me you will never put me away” or “always keep me at home with you.” It is a hard request to deny, and often this request leads to a hasty promise.
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right” – Oprah Winfrey
The beginning of a new year offers us a chance to make a fresh start and gives renewed energy to the parts of our life that need a little extra attention. It also offers us the chance to look back on our victories and to celebrate our accomplishments. Last year was another challenging year. It required patience, continual commitment and increased adaptability. Congratulate yourself on making it through 2021.
The holidays can be a stressful time for many, even without a global pandemic to consider. Add to that the pressure some feel to create a New Year’s resolution, and we have a combination that can stifle many folks. The good news is we all have a tool that we can use to help overcome this stress, contribute to our well-being, and grow our resilience!