Make Your Aging Loved Ones Feel Special on Veterans Day

ng loved one will feel extra special if you proactively seek to make them smile. With the holidays approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to start spreading the love. If your loved one is a Veteran, all the more reason to start celebrating early!  If your aging loved one is uncomfortable or unsafe leaving the house, or even if your loved one is already in a senior living community, maybe its time to bring the party to them.

Top Ways To Spread Happiness And Make Your Aging Loved One Feel Special

Family Opportunities And Outings

• Have a family gathering or bring the grandkids for a visit. (If it’s a visit to his or her home, remember to look for any signs that they might be unfit to continue living independently.)
• Cook your aging loved one his or her favorite meal. Make them feel extra special and bring them a shared dessert, like a pie. If he or she is already in an assisted living facility or other community, bring it to them!
• If your loved one is a veteran, have the family participate in a veterans parade, or a fundraiser that aids wounded veterans.
• If your aging loved one is a veteran, take them on an adventure to a military museum, battlefield or war memorial. There are also memorial ceremonies and parades that take place on Veterans Day that you can get involved with.
• Whether your loved one lives in a facility or still lives at home, pick them up and take the entire family on a scenic car ride. Another special gesture would be to take your loved one to get their hair done.
• Sit with your loved one and watch his or her favorite movie.
• Talk about their childhood and reminisce of his or her “old times” (even the grand-kids will love this).
• Play games like chess, checkers, card games, bingo, even Jeopardy!

Gifting
One of the best presents you can give your senior veteran is knowledge about the benefits of Aid and Attendance. This program is offered to veterans who have served for our country. Aid and Attendance is a monthly senior care allowance given to the senior veteran and his or her spouse.

Whether or not your aging loved one is a veteran or not, these presents will never fail:

• Buy them festive decorations like a wreath or other holiday decor and setup the display for them. If he or she is a veteran, a U.S. flag is always a special present.
• Buy your aging loved one more yarn for knitting, or something that will allow them to continue enjoying their favorite hobby.
• Purchase them a new warm hat! If they are a veteran, patriotic colors would be best.
• Purchase a membership to Ancestry.com. Together, you can discover your loved one’s past!
• If your loved one has a pet, buy extra treats.
• Get them a pretty brooch or pin. If your loved on is a veteran, a U.S. flag pin to display on their shirt is a nice choice.
• Make or buy a calendar and hang it on the wall for them. Your loved one will be able to look forward to upcoming activities and holidays. Don’t forget to add your family visits in!

Spread the love and share happiness with your aging loved one. Try purchasing them a gift like the ideas given above, or schedule a special family outing with your loved one. Every call, every visit, every ounce of extra effort can only benefit, because whether you’re a senior veteran or not, every senior deserves to feel special.