Ramadan is just finished. Easter and Passover are about to begin. Families everywhere are coming together to celebrate. It joyous, for sure. But we AgePros also hear some of the stress these intergenerational gatherings can bring. Here are a few tips to help your clients’ families better connect with their loved ones.
Tips on Building and Strengthening Intergenerational Relationships:
- Swapping stories can help families connect while forging stronger bonds.
- Many older adults have skills or talents that, despite their potential doubts, are interesting for children and youth. Perhaps older relatives could teach grandkids to quilt, crochet, knit, woodwork, scrapbook, fish, bake, or take care of animals. These activities foster connection for clients’ families by engaging their loved ones.
- Reading to each other.
- Planning/preparing a meal. Often, preparing food together is a wonderful way to help your clients’ families better connect with their loved ones.
- Talking about ethnic heritage. Share ethnic customs, discuss the meaning of a name in native language, or relate special stories passed down about culture. When your clients’ families share memories and traditions, their loved ones feel more connected.
- Planting seeds or gardening. Even if it’s just a few herbs and spices along a window sill, the process encourages your clients’ families to bond with their loved ones.
- Discussing hobbies and sharing examples is a way your clients’ families can better connect with their loved ones.
- Having the kids teach older adults a new technology can help your clients’ families strengthen their relationships with their loved ones.
Suggest that familiy members interview their elders
It’s amazing what a few simple questions can reveal. It’s a way to preserve memories and make seniors feel seen and heard. Not to mention cherished. Helping your clients’ families better connect with their loved ones is possible through thoughtful interviewing. Here are a few questions you can share with your clients’ families from the New York Times:
- Did you ever get into trouble as a child?
- What was your childhood bedroom like?
- What was one of your favorite trips?
- Who were the loves of your life?
Best of all there’s no holiday required.
While these strategies can work wonders for special occassions, when everyone’s together. They work just as well any day — and make any visit, phone call or face time an opportunity for love, learning and real togetherness across generations.
Have some ideas to share? Drop us your thoughts at info@agepros.net.
