Taking care of your grandparents means having a loving and generous attitude towards them. Find ways to help, such as helping out around the house or making yourself available for heavy work. Treat them with respect and dignity. Spending time with them will give you the opportunity to get to know them better and learn more about their experiences and the details of their life. Be patient and kind, even when they do or say things that annoy you or make you nervous. Remember: your grandparents are elderly and probably don't have the same energy as you. So offer them your availability and support.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Providing Home Care
Step 1. Offer to help
Ask what you can do for them. If they find it difficult to do something, offer to take charge of it. Even if they don't ask you, you take the initiative. Or you can specifically ask if there is anything you can do for them.
- Your grandparents will be grateful for your availability and will have something to teach you in return. You can play a game together, or you can ask them to help you with your homework.
- Ask, "What can I do for you?"
Step 2. Help them with their daily chores
It often happens that grandparents find it hard to move and, in this case, they need a hand in housework, which can be too burdensome for them. Wash the dishes, mop the floor or do the laundry - this will make them feel more comfortable and less anxious about things to do.
Try to understand the areas where you can be useful and offer your contribution if it seems to you that they need you
Step 3. Help out with the work
If they are doing some major work (like painting a house or training a pet), offer to help. If, for example, they want to waterproof the terrace, spend a weekend helping them. Be willing to take some time off for demanding jobs that they may not be able to tackle on their own.
These situations, among other things, allow you to be more with them and talk a little
Step 4. Run errands for them
Maybe they need to get prescriptions, do the shopping or go to the bank. Your intervention is particularly useful if your grandparents do not drive the car and walk with difficulty. Find ways to contribute.
If you don't have a driver's license yet, get your parents to accompany you and go running errands for grandparents together
Part 2 of 3: Interacting with your Grandparents
Step 1. Be polite
Treat them with respect and education. Even if they ask you the same questions over and over or don't hear what you say, be affectionate and address them with due regard. Answer calmly when asked about things. When they speak, listen patiently, without interrupting them. Show, with your behavior, that you respect them and care about them.
If they make you nervous, take a break. Come back a few minutes later when you have calmed down
Step 2. Spend time with them
The best way to show that you care is to spend some time together to get to know them better. Watch their favorite show together, plan to go for a walk in the park or have dinner together once a week. Ask them to teach you a game, then teach them one.
Find something special to do together. For example, find one day a week to take a walk in the park or to go get an ice cream
Step 3. Learn about their life
Ask your grandparents to tell you about their memories and tell you their stories. Learn about your family history. Ask them to tell you about their life and what it was like to have your father (or mother) as a child.
Consider drawing a family tree with them
Step 4. Get advice
There is no one better than grandparents to ask for advice. They have been alive a lot longer than you and have a lot of experiences, both good and bad, to share with you. If you have any concerns or concerns that are bothering you, try talking to them. They will give you a new perspective to think about and, in addition, make them feel appreciated and considered.
Ask for advice on topics like school, first love stories, marriage, children. If you want a second opinion, ask them
Step 5. Be cheerful
Some days it can be more difficult than others, but keep in mind that you are doing it for people you love. If their requests for help are particularly challenging or pressing, think about what you are willing and able to do. Then, once you've made up your mind, keep a positive attitude.
If they suffer from loneliness, in particular, try to be nice and in a good mood
Part 3 of 3: Be Thoughtful
Step 1. Give them gifts
Just a kind thought every now and then, which shows that you care about them and does not forget them. You can think of an object, such as a watch or a mobile phone, or an activity to do together, such as going to the cinema or taking a trip to a beautiful place surrounded by nature. Think about what they might like the most, then do a nice gesture towards them.
- Don't forget their birthdays and other anniversaries. Give them a gift to celebrate.
- For the choice of gifts you can ask your parents for a suggestion.
Step 2. Invite them to events
Grandparents like to feel proud of their grandchildren. Invite them to games, concerts, plays, plays, birthday parties, graduations and other events. They will surely be happy to be considered an integral part of your life.
Find a comfortable place for them to stay if they struggle to move. It can also be a place of honor for them, like the place next to you at your birthday party
Step 3. Find out about their health
Find out about their health. Ask if they visit regularly, if they have access to all the medications they need, and if they are okay. Ask if they have someone to go to when they are sick or need medical attention. Offer your help, if needed, to go for a visit or to take medications.
