Celebrating Women’s History Month with Seniors

Last week was the official start of Women’s History Month. The month celebrates the contributions of women across the globe. Over the course of this month, we encourage you to honor not only those who changed the world, but the women in your life who made an impact on you. Celebrating Women’s History Month with seniors is a great way to show your older parents or grandparents how much you appreciate all they’ve done. Find different avenues to illustrate just how much of an influence they’ve had on you.

Thank them for all their help

First and foremost, the best way to show the women in your life your appreciation is to thank them. Thank your mother for the support she’s provided you throughout your life. Thank your grandmother for all the wisdom she’s given over the years.

Write your thoughts on a card for them to display in their home. As an additional gesture to show how special they are, consider buying them a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolate. You might be surprised how this act impacts their mood.

Ask about the history of women in your family

Many seniors love the opportunity to discuss stories of times gone by. Ask your elderly loved one about the women in their lives that may no longer be with them. Exercising their memory in this fashion provides them the satisfaction of reminiscing on good times, but it could be more than that. You may learn details about your lineage you never knew.

Donate to a women’s shelter

There are thousands of organizations across the world designed to support women in need. With the help of your elderly loved one, find an organization that inspires both of you. Once you have come to a conclusion, make a donation.

If you have the time and your loved one has the capability, consider donating your time to a local woman’s shelter for an afternoon. This is a fantastic opportunity to directly give back to women in need. At the same time, you may be building a stronger connection with this family member. If it goes well, you may even decide to make it an annual tradition.

Arrange a book club around women authors

Book clubs are a fantastic opportunity for seniors to exercise their minds and socialize with like-minded individuals. If your loved one isn’t already in a book club, arrange one for them—but make it special, for the month of March. Arrange a time and location for your loved one and her friends to meet, and collect a series of books for them to choose from written by women.

Mix classic and modern female authors into your list so your loved one has a wide variety of novels to choose from. A few examples of authors to include are Louisa May Alcott, Agatha Christie, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, and Octavia E. Butler.

If your loved one needs help at home, consider an at-home caregiver

No matter how much you want to be there for your mother, your grandmother, or other relative, there may be times when you can’t be. When that is the case, try hiring the help of an at-home caregiver.

These professionals are specially trained to offer your elderly loved one support with all their non-medical activities of daily living. These include personal care, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, brain games, and companionship. With the help of a caregiver, you never have to worry about your loved one’s needs being unmet.

If you currently care for your loved one, you may be able to receive compensation for your work. Through the IDoA’s Community Care Program, a home care agency trains family caregivers in all the ins and outs of home care. Upon completing training and orientation, the agency will match you with your loved one, and you can start receiving payment.