If you have a father in his senior years, you might have had an occasional conversation with him that goes something like this:
You: “So, Dad, is there anything special you would like for Father’s Day?”
Dad: “Oh, I don’t need anything. I have everything I need.”
You: “Come on, Dad, there must be something you would like.”
Dad: “No. I have you; that’s all I want.”
Sound familiar? Chances are that your dad is not just being considerate but is being honest. By a certain age, many seniors don’t want more material possessions, believing that “the most important things in life aren’t things.”
So, when Dad says that he has you and that’s all he wants, why not give him the gift of your time for Father’s Day? Here are some ideas for how you and your dad might spend that time together in a memorable way—surely your dad would appreciate one or more of these.
Stepping out
If your dad likes to go out, either to favorite places or for new experiences, he might enjoy (depending on their availability and his mobility): watching a baseball game, going fishing or bird watching, taking a boat ride, visiting a car show, touring a museum, attending a concert or play or getting a massage. And of course, you can’t go wrong with a family picnic or meal at his favorite restaurant.
Staying in
If your dad isn’t physically able to go out or simply prefers staying home, he might like: looking at family photos together, watching a favorite movie, indulging in a homemade treat, making ice cream sundaes, ordering takeout from a favorite pizza or sandwich shop or just sitting together while sharing personal news and memories. These are good ideas, too, if he is challenged by memory loss. If your dad is visually impaired, he might enjoy having you read to him from the Sunday newspaper or a favorite magazine or book.
Phoning in
Of course, if you aren’t near your dad, you might have to settle for long-distance communication, but you can make that special, too. Stretch out your phone call longer than usual—if Dad likes to talk, give him all the time he wants on Father’s Day. If you normally talk to Dad just by phone, you could try arranging to video chat with him.
Family life at Country Meadows
At Country Meadows, we look forward to family visits on Father’s Day, and we encourage them year round as well. All of our senior living options—senior independent living communities, personal care homes, assisted living facilities and memory support services—are designed to foster family involvement and interaction with our residents.
To promote family unity, we offer various spaces to families for get-togethers and celebrations. All our campuses provide private dining rooms, indoor and outdoor common areas, game rooms and chapels for families to use. In addition, we welcome family members to join their loved ones for meals and attend lectures, concerts and picnics, as well as special off-campus programs.
We invite you to visit our active senior living communities where we offer lovely apartments in independent living, as well as assisted living or personal care homes. Contact us today for a tour of any of our 10 retirement communities in Pennsylvania or our Maryland retirement home. We can introduce you to our comfortable senior housing in Lancaster, Reading, York, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh and Lehigh Valley, PA or Frederick, MD, where you will find retirement living that is family-centered, active and fulfilling.
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