Just be present

When caring for elderly parents, you don't have to do anything extraordinary, but simple gestures that say 'I Care, I love, I am here!'....Listen to them in silence. Give them your full attention, even if they repeat the same things. Be patient with them, smile with them, remain close to them even if they have nothing else to give you. Visit them as often as you can. Don’t criticize them. Don’t remove anything from its place. Leave everything as you found it, even if you freshened up the place. For them any change will confuse them. Say a simple prayer with them, even a Hail Mary. Never let them feel alone. Give them some flowers, something they like to eat. Give them a kiss, a hug, stroke their face, their hands. Review their photo albums, and let them relate some stories they can remember from the photos. Take them for a ride in your car, near a beach, in the countryside, especially in the winter months. If you live far away at least give them a call occasionally. Whenever you can, visit them, and don’t say ‘I will, soon,’  just drop everything and go! Le them talk, speak only to say ‘Thank you Grandma, thanks Grandpa...Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad.’