How to Connect Older and Younger Family Members
If you’re juggling all your family’s needs, you’re probably aware of the gap between the youngest and the oldest members.
Sometimes it seems that in addition to the generational divide, there’s a massive gulf between the interests of children and their older relatives, which makes connecting difficult.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a bit of creativity, you can find ways to unite all ages with a range of family-friendly activities. We show you how in our guide to bridging the generational gap.
Tap into your older relative’s knowledge
Older people are an invaluable source of information. For example, if your child is involved in a history project at school, get them to interview their elderly relative to get a first-hand account of what life was like in days gone by.
Being able to reminisce about a significant period of their life will be appreciated by your relative, while your kids will gain valuable and unique insights.
The topic doesn’t have to be history. For example, if your child is interested in cooking, they can ask Grandma to share her family recipes and help recreate them as a fun activity.
Your elderly relative may also love to return to a hobby they practised when younger, which could be anything from woodwork to rollerskating! Get them to show your kids the ropes, and you could find that both generations share a lifelong passion.
Try some family-friendly activities
Once you start looking, you’ll be surprised at the number of activities suitable for all family.
Card games have a universal appeal, so if your elderly relative enjoys them get them to show the younger generation how to play.
Gardening is another activity that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Younger children especially will love planting seeds and watching them grow, guided by their more senior family members.
If your older relative is still active, why not suggest they plan out a trip with their grandchildren or nieces and nephews? This could be a day trip to one of their favourite places or a longer stay to mark a special occasion like a landmark birthday.
If distance is a barrier…
If you live far away from the oldest family members, your kids likely don’t get to see them often. Help them stay in touch via video calls.
On your next visit, get your teens to set up their grandparents with an app like Zoom or Skype to enable video calls. Just by going through the process of setting up the tech, your teen and elderly parent will strengthen their bond.
Then book in regular slots so they can stay in touch from afar or keep it spontaneous and let the generations manage communication themselves.
Related reading: 6 ways to keep in touch with your loved ones
What else do I need to do to keep my loved one connected?
Try out a few different ideas to connect generations. You may be surprised to find the amount of common ground between them and how it helps to build relationships and make family ties stronger.
Staying in touch with family is an essential part of a happy and fulfilled life for your older relative. As well as helping to nurture the relationship with your children, think about other ways your elderly loved one can stay connected while living independently.
If they live alone or in an aged care community, they could benefit from an in-home or personal alarm.
The Tunstall range of products enables your loved one to live life to the fullest with the security of knowing there is always someone there.
When Tunstall personal alarms are activated, they connect to a 24/7 call centre as part of the Connected Care system. Your elderly loved one will then be able to speak to a member of call centre staff who can talk them through why they called and send help if necessary.
Want to know more? Reach out to our team to learn more about how our alarm and care solutions can keep your loved one connected for a fulfilling, independent life.
Keep reading: Tips on How To Keep Loved Ones Engaged During Retirement
