There’s a good chance your father is of baby boomer age or older. With baby boomers beginning to reach the age of elevated risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementia’s, this Father’s Day opt for a thoughtful gift or activity that will spark memories of life and love rather than just another striped neck-tie or a set of golf balls. Consider gifts that are not purchased at a store but are instead sentimental gifts or activities to do with your dad that will show him how much having him as a father figure means to you. Here are 7 thoughtful and stimulating gifts that will remind your dad of his importance of being that first man in your life.
1) A Day at the Dock
For the outdoorsman, take a trip to a local river or fishing dock for a picnic and a day spending quality time together in nature and soaking up the sun. The sun is a great source of Vitamin D which research has found can improve cognitive health and is necessary for brain, bone and muscle function.
2) A trip to a Game or Museum
Spend an afternoon at a game watching his favorite sporting pastime. If your dad’s a history buff or Veteran he would surely get a kick spending some time perusing the local Art, History or Veterans Museum.
3) Slideshow of Memories
Scan pictures and create a slide show album of his photos to watch together. Your dad will love reliving his memories and providing captions to the photos from his life. Looking at photos is a form of Reminiscence therapy which is cognitive stimulation that can help improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia.
4) Audio Keepsakes
Capture audio recordings of yourself or his older grandchildren reading his favorite jokes, stories or poems aloud for him to listen to whenever he’d like. Simple audio recorders are easy to use and will allow him to hear his loved ones voices with a simple push of a button.
5) Music Playlist
Create a nostalgic playlist of music from his younger years or favorite era of music. According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, music is very powerful in triggering memories and emotions, even in the later stages of Alzheimer’s.
6) A Week of Home Cooked Meals
Let him take the week off cooking. Prepare a whole week of meals for him to heat and enjoy without having to deal with cooking and cleaning. It’s the Father’s Day gift that keeps giving…for a whole week!
7) Time and Attention
Best of all…time and attention. Spend some quality time talking to and listening to his stories with genuine interest.
If you find that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to make time to give your dad the attention that he appreciates most, consider hiring a Caregiver from Assisted Healthcare Services at (800) 949-6555 or www.assisted1.com. From light housekeeping to shopping and meal prep, an Assisted Caregiver can step in to be a hand to help and an ear to listen when you are not able to give him the time and attention that he deserves.
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