Columbia Aged Care

Easter is this Sunday. Are you struggling for gift ideas or activities to do with your loved one?

The best gift you can give your loved one is to spend time with them.

Holidays can be a lonely time for elderly people if they are unable to spend it with family. By visiting your loved one over Easter it will show them how much you care about them.

There are many activities you can do together to celebrate Easter. Many families attend church together or share a meal for lunch or dinner.

Here is a list of things you can do at home or at your loved one’s nursing home:

• Baking Easter treats: making biscuits or your own chocolate Easter eggs.
• Easter parade: Family or nursing home members can create their own Easter hats and parade them for everyone else to see.
• Sing Easter songs: Hold a sing-a-long with your loved one or attend a local Easter concert.
• Games: Play board games or cards with your loved one.
• Craft activities: Create cards, Easter baskets, paint Easter eggs or sew Easter bunnies with your loved one. Here is a link to make your own simple Easter bunny.

Buying Easter gifts for your loved one can be difficult because not all elderly people can eat chocolate. It’s a good idea to find out what foods they enjoy and buy them instead.

Here is a list of Easter gift ideas for your loved one:

• Books with large font
• Cross stitch kit
• Knitting set
• Painting set
• Clothing
• Crossword books
• Puzzles
• Plants for their garden

Great gifts are ones from the heart, so think about making your loved one something special for Easter.

Have a happy Easter!

People often complain about the task of buying gifts for their  teenage nieces and nephews and their in-laws, but often buying a gift for the elderly is a far greater challenge.

What do you get for a person who is not interested in technology and the latest gadgets or a person who has trouble seeing and getting around?

Hapworth has provided some suggestions and informs us of gifts for the elderly to make their life easier.

1. Talk to the elderly.
Ask them what they can use. Look around their home and see what they need. Because they can't get out as easily as most people, consider the necessities for daily living.

2. Consider what they want.
Consider buying stamps, stationary, and cards so they can keep in touch with friends and family. Consider buying large print items such as a subscription to Reader's Digest in large print or a large print novel.

3. Make technology handy.
Buy a large numbered telephone and a large numbered remote control. If they have trouble hearing, consider an attachment for the telephone to enhance sound. Look for large numbered thermometers for those who live in their own home and like to look outside and see the temperature change.

4. Spoil them.
The elderly usually do not have a lot of spare money so buy them special extravagant items such as their favourite foods. Pay the light bill or telephone bill.

5. The best gift you can give is your time.
The elderly often can be lonely, and have a lot of time on their hands. So try and fit in regular visits and organise excursions or things to do with them. They will really appreciate the effort and your company.