October 1 is International Day of Older Persons. The United Nations set the date in 1990 to honor older adults and the lives they’ve built, and you can mark it with something as small as a phone call.
Researchers have linked social connection in later life to lower rates of depression and better memory. Your grandmother or the neighbor down the hall will notice your effort, and you’ll walk away feeling closer to them. Pick one idea below and try it before Sunday.
1. Call instead of texting
A text works for quick plans. A phone call lets your grandfather hear your voice and tell you about his week at his own pace.
Pick a regular time, like Sunday after dinner, so he has something to look forward to. This routine will also help if forgetfulness is a challenge. If hearing on the phone is hard for him, try a video call so he can read your face as you talk.
2. Ask for a story you haven’t heard
Your aunt has decades of stories, and you know a handful of them. Ask about her first job or the street she grew up on.
She exercises her memory as she tells it, and you get to know her better. With her permission, record the conversation on your phone so your family can listen back to it for years.
3. Take a walk together
A slow loop around the block gets your blood moving and gives you both something to talk about besides the weather. Let your neighbor set the pace.
If he or she uses a cane or walker, choose a flat route with a bench along the way. Take notice of what you see and don’t forget to “stop to smell the flowers. “On days when walking feels like too much, sit together on the porch and watch the comings and goings on the street.
4. Cook a meal together
Invite your mom to teach you the recipe she’s made for decades, or bring over the ingredients for her favorite soup. Cooking side by side keeps your hands busy, and you’ll find yourselves talking about more than the food.
If she lives alone, a shared meal breaks up a quiet week. Pack up the leftovers so she has lunch tomorrow.
5. Breathe together for two minutes
Sit side by side in sturdy chairs with your feet flat on the floor and your hands resting on your thighs. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four. Then breathe out through your mouth for a count of six, and repeat the cycle five times.
The longer exhale slows your heart rate and helps your nervous system settle. You can use it in the waiting area before a doctor’s appointment or anytime one of you feels tense.
Put one on your calendar
Choose one idea and schedule it for this week. If you care for an aging parent or partner, the walk and the breathing break count as care for you too.
Share this blog with a friend who has an older adult in their life, and tell us in the comments which idea you tried and found helpful.
