1. Do crafts together.
Crafts are both a fun way to produce something beautiful and spend time together and the internet is packed with websites that share senior-friendly craft ideas.
2. Find a few good board games.
Board games can also inject a dose of fun into your time together. Some assisted living communities may already have a collection you can use to start. There are board games with all sorts of themes — from adventure games to card games, to word games and more. If you need ideas, head to your closest game shop and ask for recommendations based on what you and your parent like.
3. Have a mini book group.
One way to keep conversations interesting and make sure you always have something new to talk about is to come into the visit with a theme to discuss, such as a book you’re both reading. Book groups don’t have to be made up of a large group. It can be just you and your loved one or the two of you and another family member.
4. Have a picnic.
Even if the meals at the assisted living community that your parent lives at are great, eating in the same place can become pretty humdrum. You can spice things up for your parent by buying or making some of their favorite foods and packing them into a picnic basket. Bring along a blanket and maybe a comfortable lawn chair or two and find a spot somewhere on the assisted living grounds or nearby to sit together and enjoy the meal outside.
5. Have television nights.
Is there a TV show you both love? Make viewing a show together a regular activity. Whether it’s on cable at a specific time each week or a Netflix show you’re both interested in, commit to watching each episode together so you can laugh or gasp together at the shocking twists.
6. Help them video chat with loved ones who live far away.
Do you have children, siblings or other loved ones that live too far away to visit them regularly? Why not virtually meet with them together during your visits?
7. Make a playlist.
Everybody loves music. Listening to music together can be a pleasant way to do something enjoyable for both of you. Creating a playlist together gives your loved one something they can enjoy in the hours when you’re away. If your parent isn’t great at figuring out programs like Google Music or iTunes, you’ll be giving them a useful way to enjoy the songs they love.
8. Take up scrapbooking together.
With digital photography and social media, not as many people sit down to create scrapbooks. Not only do scrapbooks give you something physical you can flip through together to enjoy your memories, but putting a scrapbook together can be a fun and rewarding activity.
Source: A Place For Mom
