For example, if your grandparent needs to use a cane or walker to help him get around, then planning a morning walking around a local park is not a suitable idea. Your grandparent will not be able to walk for a long period of time and will need frequent rest breaks.
Know if your grandparent sleeps late in the mornings or takes naps around a certain time every day. Know if your grandparent has a regular doctor appointment each week or has a medical routine to do at the same time every day.
Cook or bake together Sit and talk about life and memories Read a book together Take a walk around the neighborhood or in a park Make a craft with him/her Learn a skill that he/she has, like carving wood or knitting Have a picnic Visit a local art gallery Play board or card games Go shopping or window shopping Go fishing, boating, or hunting If you have a talent, you can use it to make them happy. For example, you sing or play piano for them. [1] X Research source You can spend some time with them and have a conversation, so they do not feel lonely. [2] X Research source Or you can bring something nice for them.
Talk about life and memories Play board or card games Put a puzzle together Make a craft together Read a book together Write a story or poem together
If you are running late, call your grandparent and let him know to expect you a little later. Be sure to explain why. If it turns out that you need to reschedule, let your grandparent know immediately. Do not wait until the last minute to call and change the plans, because your grandparent will likely feel very let down. Be sure to reschedule for another day and time that you are certain you are available.
Enjoy the time you are spending with your grandparent, because you never know how much longer you might be able to do this.
You can do a different activity next time, or you can do the same thing again. Make sure your grandparent has written down somewhere when you will come for your next visit. Scheduling the next time gives your grandparent something to which he can look forward.
Alternatively, if you know that your grandparent needs some help, you could surprise her by showing up unexpectedly to do the work.
Vacuum the house Dust the furniture Pull weeds in the garden Help harvest homegrown vegetables Wash the walls Deep clean the carpets Do the laundry Paint a room
Having a new roof installed Having a new appliance delivered and installed Getting a porch or deck built onto the house Having a pest issue resolved Having some kind of renovation done inside the house, like replacing cabinets
Be sure to follow through with going to her home, if she is expecting you. You will let her down and lose trust if you do not show up. Be polite and respectful if your grandparent is hesitant to let you help due to pride or feelings of independence. While she might truly need the help, she could find it offensive or upsetting if you become pushy about it. If your grandparent does not want you to do as much work as you planned to do, then complete the tasks she is allowing you to do and try to get to the others next time.
Your grandparent probably did a lot to help your parents raise you, and this is your opportunity to help repay the favor. This is also a good time to show her how much you appreciate and care about her. You want your grandparent to live in comfort and health, so do your best to ensure that this happens when you offer to take care of chores personally.
You might need to take your grandparent to your house or somewhere else for the day, depending on what kind of work is being done on her house. Take care of those arrangements ahead of time, if necessary.
If you are a youth and cannot drive yet, this will depend on your parents’ availability to drive you to your grandparent’s house. Consider whether you can go after school or work and how many times per week. Maybe you can only commit to once per week, or maybe you have availability to visit a few times per week. If you live far away, always make an effort to visit your grandparent in person when you are in town.
If you have a commute of 20 minutes or more to/from work or school, you could easily spend that time chatting with your grandparent. Bluetooth devices and Bluetooth accessibility in cars are both very common today to make talking while driving safe. Call whenever you know your grandparent is available and whenever you have time. If your grandparent is an early riser and you have time in the mornings, call then. On the other hand, if you cannot call until the evening, call at an appropriate time for your grandparent.
If you live far away, this is a way for you to catch up with your grandparent and for you to see each other. When you visit your grandparent in person, take a couple of hours to teach him how to use the service and practice.
You can send a card for his birthday, anniversary, or other holiday. Your grandparent will like being remembered and recognized on days like Veteran’s Day, if he was a member of the military. You can also simply send a note “just because,” to catch your grandparent up on what is going on in your life.
Be an active listener when your grandparent is telling you stories about your family history or about her memories. Ask questions and make comments that prove that you are listening. Respond appropriately to her requests or commands. If she asks you to do a task, then you should do it.
Stay off of your cell phone or smartphone while spending time with her. Your attention should be focused on her. Avoid arguing with or talking back to your grandparent. Thank your grandparent when she does something for you or gives you a gift. Be polite to your grandparent and to others when you are out in public. Be helpful and do any tasks or chores without complaint.
Let your grandparent know often that you love her. Focus your attention on your grandparent when spending time with her.
If you do take her advice, and it works for you, be sure to let your grandparent know and thank her for helping you.
Although grandparents love and enjoy babysitting their grandchildren, for example, they feel more respected and included when they are invited to events.
Do not try to force new ideas or beliefs on your grandparent if she is not open to learning about them. This only sets the stage for an argument and causes tension. Your grandparent might be curious about a topic or norm, but she may not want to learn everything there is to know about it. Respect the boundaries she sets for the conversation. Calmly and carefully explain certain new societal norms, like the ways people interact or the mixture of cultures present in society.
