Building Bridges between the Young and Seniors | Senior In-Home ...

As parents age, it may seem increasingly hard to find things in common with them.? And finding that same common ground between your own children and their grandparents can be even tougher.? What could children and older adults possibly have in common??? Actually?quite a lot.

No matter our age, we are human, and our need for attention, consideration and nurturing does not fade as we grow older.? Everyone likes to feel valued, and we find that value not just in how we feel about ourselves, but also in how people treat us. There is no denying the gap between generations, but building the bridge to cross that gap may be easier than you think.? As with any relationship, communication is key.? Through basic interaction, your loved ones, young and old, can learn to communicate.? While it is true that you cannot simply place a ten-year-old in the room with an 80-year-old and expect them find common ground on their own, Comfort Keepers^? believes there are many ways you can help cultivate that relationship, and in doing so, strengthen the bond of your entire family.

If your family lives apart from your elderly loved ones, distance can pose a challenge.? Phone calls are necessary but limiting, so encourage communication in other ways.? If the senior in your life is computer-savvy, schedule frequent video chats to discuss the most important or favorite events that happened since the last chat occurred.? Trading emails can be fun, but teaching your child the ?old timey? art of writing letters and sending them through the mail can be just as rewarding, if not more so.? Your child learns a valuable skill while your senior loved one enjoys communicating in the same, comfortable way they learned when they were growing up.? A handwritten letter or note is something that the senior can look at again and again.

For those who are able to gather often, plan family game nights of cards or even old board games like Parcheesi.? Quiet-time activities can include your mother and child coloring together or reading aloud to each other.? Planting and caring for flowers together can also provide common interest, fun, and satisfaction in watching those flowers ? and relationships ? blossom.? Create a story night, where each family member has a chance to retell a past adventure or favorite memory.

These same activities can be important between an adult child and their parent, even when younger children are not present.? In today?s world, it is not uncommon for a parent or grandparent to live with their adult child / grandchild.? These activities can be crucial to the development of balance in the home.? Interaction between generations allows each to understand the other, have fun, and look forward to spending time together. Your lives are enriched, as past family history meets present, and your family heritage never dies but becomes a bridge to the gap of many generations to come.

No matter how you build your bridge, the importance lies within the lessons learned and the value added to the relationships between children, adult children and older adults.? Your children learn to respect their elders, to be patient, and to accept people for who they are.? Your senior loved ones feel less isolated, more connected, and happier in having things to look forward to.? All age groups will come to feel the value in being considered, loved and appreciated?in spite of the limitations of their ages.? As with any bridge, success lies within its careful construction that provides valuable connections to the places and people it connects.? And, as with any bridge?the value added is a two way street.

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