Museums and Your Senior Parent
Senior Care Upper Darby PA
Here is a consideration: one day a month, think about scheduling an outing to a museum or gallery for your senior parent—be it with you or their senior care provider. They’ve never been very interested in the arts, history or science? Maybe medicine, the human body, astronomy, gardens or photography lights up their eyes.
While many museums are designed as learning centers, others are designed to not only enlighten, but to engage visitors as well. Some are even adopting specific activities in order to “engage older visitors, ensure they feel welcome when they arrive, cared for during their stay, and, by the time they leave, eager to return.”
This feeling of interaction is very important to an aging parent that is finding themselves spending more time alone than in the company of friends and family. Museums heeding this call have also noted that the benefits not only fell upon the senior, but also with staff and family that appreciated the social atmosphere.
Choice
Make a list of all the museums in your area and let your loved one choose. Possibilities are fine arts, applied arts and crafts, archeology, anthropology, ethnology, history, cultural history, military history, science, technology, children’s museums, natural history, botanical and zoological gardens and parks. Many museums also offer special programs such as films regarding astronomy or special events and exhibits.
Specific programs designed to engage are guided tours, in-house creative arts workshops, integrated arts projects and various discussions. Some are offering full-day workshops in arts, culture, health and well-being. Check online for your local museum’s schedule and discuss with your parent which of these offerings he would like to consider.
As a Means to Give Back
Many museums are always looking for volunteers. Special events often require volunteers to fill specific shifts. Educational programs need people to run the programs. Greeting and assisting guests in the museum’s store is another area in high demand. The benefits of volunteering are great and, for a senior, they often get back as much as they give.
Experts suggest that only one in five older people have regular contact with their family. Making sure your loved one spends time engaged with people is a very important part of their continued health and longevity. Know, as well, that if they are in the capable hands of a senior care provider, they too know the importance of social interaction and are happy to schedule such outings with your parent.
Resources: www.museumassociation.org
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care Services in Upper Darby PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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