Although the retirement years are often regarded as the golden years, for some older adults, retirement does not make them happy. Especially those who lead active and independent lives may start to feel down and useless when they struggle with daily tasks and responsibilities of home ownership. With diminishing mobility and memory, some elderlies feel like they have lost their dignity. As their loved ones, we want to boost their mood and make our elderly loved ones laugh again. After all, laughter is quite a good medicine. It is proven to reduce stress, strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, and exercise those stomach muscles with a good belly laugh. Laughter also builds trust and brings people together. When we laugh, we feel positive and creative. In addition to supporting your elderly loved ones with independent living, here are some activities you can do to cheer them up.
Tell Them Jokes
The internet contains resources for tongue twisters, jokes, and riddles. Look them up, write them down, and tell a few to your elderly loved one. According to a comedian, if you believe in the joke, your audience is more likely to find it funny. And if you vary your voice, it makes the joke more lively. Add a little pause to add some suspension before you deliver the punchline. So when you are looking for jokes, look for those that make you laugh.
Besides the internet, you may come across funny situations in life or have shared jokes with your elderly loved one. Talk about them to relive those funny times, act them out or add some funny sound effects and have a laugh over them all over again.
Play Is Not Only for Children
Play is a great way to spend time together and inspire creativity. It even exercises their physical and cognitive abilities. Play group games like charades, which requires your elderly loved ones to exercise their memory, imagination, and sometimes, the body. Themed days or events celebrations are good occasions to play pretend. Have a polka dots day, where everyone dresses in polka dots and speaks in nonsensical polka dot language, or you can celebrate Halloween, getting them to dress up and act as the scariest ghouls and creatures they have ever seen. You might even want to call on the masters of play – children. Volunteer at children’s events or facilities or invite them to the community. A surefire way to bring some joy and laughter into your life.
Sing Songs and Dance with Them
Songs bring back many memories for older adults, reminding them of their youths and all the good times. Sing happy songs with your elderly loved one, and tap on the power of the internet once again to search up the music and lyrics. Collate a playlist of their all-time favorites and sing along with them. When the music gets to you, groove along with it. Invite your elderly loved one to stand up for a dance. Go ahead and make up your own dance movements, do a silly dance and have them follow along, or play some popular songs that already come with their own movements and dance along.
