3 Ways To Make Elderly Parents Feel Wanted

It feels just like yesterday that we had children whom we saw through childhood and adulthood and now it is time for them to fly out of the nest and set up their own lives. It is a very well realized fact that most elderly parents develop a feeling of not being wanted by their own children once they have their own careers and families. We as parents can set an example for our children of how to make elderly parents feel wanted and loved.

Ways to make your elderly parents feel wanted:

1)    Ask your elderly parents for advice: What could be happier for a parent than being asked for advice by their grown up children; it would make the elder feel soothed in a circumstance when he/she face new challenges like decreased mobility, increased fatigue and poor health that makes them feel useless and unwanted. You may be pressed for time, yet you could convey to them that they are very useful and wanted by continuing to take their advice on things always. They would still be happy to help you whom they consider as their own little girl or boy. When asking for advice make sure it is something that your elderly parent really knows; it is futile to just invent any query at all. Asking for advice would not only help elderly parents feel wanted, but it would also change their outlook of life. You would also get an opportunity to draw on their storehouse of wisdom and knowledge.

2)    Engage your elderly parents to play with your children and help them in their home assignments: Grandparents would feel useful when they engage the children by playing board games with them and also help them in their home assignments; they would feel good sharing their knowledge and wisdom that would help their grandchildren.  It is also significant to know that most grandparents have a more in-depth knowledge of subjects due to the system of education in their days.

3)    Keep in touch with your elderly parents: Parents raise children with the hope that they will not feel lonely in their old age; however it is quite common to find elderly parents feel isolated and alone. It would be good if you do not grow apart from your aged parents and try to make attempts to keep in touch; this could be done by ringing them often, maintaining touch on Skype and visiting them often if you stay in the same city or surrounding areas. It would also help if grandchildren are sent during vacations to visit grandparents and spend some time with them. Most elderly parents feel wanted and loved when they are valued by their grown-up children.

Have you made your elderly parents feel wanted?