Today we’re here to give you some tips on how to stay close to old grandparents. With loneliness on the rise in the UK it is vitally important that the elderly are looked after and can feel needed by their friends and family members.
73% of elderly people in the UK are lonely, with more than half having never spoken to anyone about how they feel, according to a survey carried out. This is an incredibly sad statistic and more awareness should be raised. In light of these stats, we’re here to provide ways of staying close to old grandparents and elders.
1. Write to your Old Grandparents
Sending a letter to old grandparents is a great way to keep them up to date with your life. If you’re not a big writer, send postcards from days out or your holidays. There are many ways to send photos to family members, such as social media, to let them know you’re thinking of them. Receiving something so meaningful in the post could really make their day!
2. Involve elderly members in celebrations
Birthdays, Easter, Bank Holidays! Always remember your grandparents and other elderly family members when you are having family days. Put in the extra effort to let them know how much you want them involved. You can invite them to kids parties, sports days or even just bring them with you to pick up the kids from school. They’ll love being surprised by granddad or grandma! It can often be easy to miss out involving older members to such events because of concerns like transport, care, or whether they want to go, but unless you ask you won’t know! The thought is often enough to make someone feel included and less lonely!
3. Ask for guidance
Old Grandparents and older family relations have a lot of experience under their belt that can be really helpful when bringing up your own children. They don’t need to be involved in making any decisions for you, but they will appreciate being asked for help every now and then. An article recently showed how grandparents help stabilise teens. Try getting grandparents to pick up the kids from school, or taking them out for walks or visits to the duck pond at the weekend. If you need some downtime they could even look after them for the weekend.
4. Enjoy leisure time
Outside of events and celebrations, pop in to enjoy your parents/grandparents company. Share a cup of tea, help them around the house, or suggest doing a hobby that they love. Listen to their stories, relive fond memories and have some fun! We have a fantastic guide of activities and events to do over the summer period. These range from outdoor cinemas, festivals to national park visits.
5. Use technology
Set your elderly relatives up on Skype – you won’t regret it! Seeing the family even when not nearby can be a great comfort for both you and your elderly relatives. You can also phone them when you’re too busy to visit and send emails for them to read up on your latest news.
