Visiting your parents at their new home in a senior living community, such as a Discovery Village community, is always interesting. You are never quite sure how the day will go but one thing for sure — your parents are always so happy to see you just as everyone else there is. To make it a great day for everyone, following are some tips to take into account and make the most out of your visit:
Make a Day of It. You know that you cannot be on the clock. You need to plan ahead and be ready to spend the whole day with your parents. After all, think about all the places they took you long ago and that more than likely they had other things to do. Now it is time to return the favor and spend some time with them.
Be Prepared to Do Nothing. Spending the day with your parents may not involve a lot of activity. It may even be a day of just sitting with them. They just want the camaraderie more than anything else. If you have children, you know how much your parents love you and how they just want to be around you. Heck, sometimes, some adult children (especially daughters) love to come for a visit because it is quiet and serene and they can relax – some even take great naps in their parents’ residences. On weekend afternoons, it is very common to see sons come for a visit so they can watch sports on television with their dads without any interruption from kids.
Bring Pictures. Sure, your parents have pictures of their grandchildren but they love to have recent pictures so make sure to bring some. This way you can update them on what the kids are doing and let them feel like they are part of the party.
Talk About Your Childhood. There is nothing your parents want to hear more about than when you talk about how great your childhood was and how lucky you were to have them as parents. This always leads to funny stories that have everyone belly-laughing.
Let Them Show You Off. Inevitably, your parents always want you to eat there with them so they seat you precisely where the other residents will see you and meet you. It can be exhausting because they do everything short of pinching your adult cheeks but all you have to do is look at your parents beaming with joy and you know you are doing the right thing. Plus, dining at a senior living community is often an experience similar to eating in a five-star hotel dining room complete with menus, white table cloths and gourmet meals prepared by trained chefs.
Take Another Tour. Yes you toured the facility prior to moving your parents there, but take another tour with your parents. It allows you to see the community through their eyes instead of someone trying to sell you on the community. Once, when a family went to visit their parents and grandparents, a boy saw a Wii gaming console in the “game room.” His eyes grew as big as saucers and he stayed in there playing video games with his grandfather for a long time. Not only did they have fun but other men who lived there joined in the entertainment and the boy never had a problem going to visit his grandparents.
Participate in Activities. If you go at a time when there are activities you enjoy, see if you can participate. Most senior living communities have no problem with family participation during in-house activities. Whether participating at knitting club, bridge, bingo or another activity, it is a wonderful gesture to be part of the group. Just let them win – you are more popular that way.
Spend Time with Your Parents. When you step back and think about your own children getting older and not having time for you, you can kind of understand how your parents feel when you are unable to visit. They just want to be with you and enjoy your company. Sound familiar?
It takes very little effort to spend time with your parents once they live in a senior living community. As they get older, you really want to spend as much time with them as you can.
But, keep one thing in mind. They may have a more active social life than you so be prepared to plan your visit in advance. They may have to squeeze you in!
Discovery Villages Senior Living 