Winter is finally gone, and there are likely many things that you and your family can now do that you’ve been looking forward to all winter. Having an elderly loved one in the family doesn’t need to prevent you from getting to do any of these things, either. Almost anything that you have been planning on doing this spring is possible to do, even if your mom or dad is disabled and has trouble getting around. Here is our brief guide to some of our favorite senior friendly spring activities. Remember, if your loved one is receiving in-home care, their caregiver might be able to provide help out of the house, too.
Spring Cleaning: Okay, nobody really likes cleaning all that much, but spring cleaning is a necessary part of good weather, and it’s something that if you need to do, you might as well know how to do it right. As with all spring activities that involve a disabled elderly loved one, your goal here should be inclusion. Think of some things that you can have your parent do to help out. Even if they are wheelchair bound, there are plenty of things that they can still do. Dusting the areas around them is easy, as is using a handheld vacuum to get some of the dust around them and in the corners. Do not allow them to do any lifting or anything rigorous if it is going to prove to be too strenuous for them. Instead, find light, easy to do things so that they can be part of the process.
Walks: I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite parts of the pleasant weather is that I can go outside for a walk when I want. When you do this, make it a family outing. If your parent is wheelchair bound, help them into their chair and bring them along with you. Stick to sidewalks here, and don’t try to navigate hills or trails. Be sure that you bring water and any necessary medications, if those are relevant. Also, always be prepared. Even if it is nice out, spring can sometimes have unpredictable weather, so don’t go too far from home, and bring rain gear–just in case.
Sports: Another one of my favorite things about spring is that baseball comes back. Maybe you don’t live near a Major League, or even a Minor League, team, but someone’s probably playing a game outside somewhere. Local high schools have spectator friendly events all the time, and this can be a fun thing to do out of the house. Most high schools have handicap-friendly facilities, too, making an outing all the easier. It doesn’t matter if it’s baseball, or track and field, or something else, your community likely has something going on that you can go and have fun at. Even if you don’t have a huge vested interest in the outcome of the game, going and watching as a family event can be a lot of fun. As a side-note, this is also the season where outdoor events like festivals, fairs, and the like start, and any of these can be fun to go to with your family, too.
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