and age now prevent her from doing so, make sure to keep her involved in the planning process. Consult her on decorations, food preparations, or other traditions to see how she would do it. It will help her continue to feel connected to the family even if she’s not in charge anymore. If They Live in a Nursing Home, Visit Them Don’t make this visit seem like an obligation. If your Christmas season is busy, make sure you carve out ample time for a meaningful visit. This is a great opportunity to show them they are still an important part of your life. Make sure to bring them a gift of some sort, such as a framed family photo or a soft blanket. If you’re not sure what to bring, you could ask the nursing home staff if they have any ideas. successful company, or starting a charitable organization, the desire to share your wisdom should not go unfulfilled. If none of these options work for your lifestyle, writing a memoir may be a good option. A memoir not only tells your story but also passes on the wisdom you’ve gained from your many experiences and offers a unique perspective to inspire future generations. Writing can be a therapeutic exercise at a time when your life may be changing due to retirement or your kids growing up and leaving the house. And, because personal reflection is a natural occurrence with age, writing a memoir can be the perfect way to spend your time. As you gain enough distance from life events to grow useful perspectives, the stage is set for self-discovery and transformation. Even more so, your life experiences can give valuable
insights to readers of all ages and circumstances. That’s why biographies and memoirs are such popular genres — reading about real people helps others understand the world and how they can live in it. To get started, pick a theme. Ask yourself these questions, “What message do I want to leave with my readers? What do I want them to feel or understand by reading my words?” From there, select anecdotes that support your theme. Make sure they’re clear and cohesive. Then, write like you would a fictional novel or story. Show, don’t tell, and keep readers invested by having a narrative arc, whether it flows chronologically or jumps back and forth in time. Remember, this is not a time to air dirty laundry; it’s a time to reflect, grow, and share your experiences with the world.
The urge to leave behind a legacy is an inherent human instinct. Whether you accomplish this by raising children, building a
Keeping the Family Together 3 Ways to Help Elderly Loved Ones Feel Included During the Holidays
The oven beeps as your holiday cookies finish baking. You speed walk across the kitchen from where you were decorating the tree, and pass the list of gifts you still need to buy that’s pinned to the fridge. Sometimes, it feels like the holiday season is a string of moments like these, and we can forget what’s more important: spending time with family. Unfortunately, the family time that often gets put to the wayside is the time we spend with our elderly loved ones. They may not be able to host and plan everything like they used to, but there are still ways to keep them involved this holiday season. Let Them Feel Central to the Celebration If your grandmother was once responsible for hosting the family on Christmas Day but her health
Have Your Kids Spend Time With Them Your kids might not know their grandparents or great-grandparents very well, and the holidays are a perfect time to remedy that. Try connecting the youngest generations of the family with the oldest through activities or story times. Many seniors love sharing stories with kids, and many kids enjoy their grandparent’s or great-grandparent’s stories. This way, your elderly loved ones won’t just feel connected to your generation — they can feel connected to the entire family.
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