After retiring, many older adults struggle to find the purpose in their remaining years.

As a family caregiver, you may have noticed this in your older family member. They might seem bored, sleep a lot or exhibit signs of depression. One way caregivers can help their aging relatives to find a sense of purpose is by helping them to get involved in charitable work. Helping others feels good, which can improve the older adult’s mood. Even if the senior isn’t as mobile as they once were, there are plenty of opportunities for charitable work that they can do right from home. Below are some examples of at-home charitable work that caregivers can help seniors to do.

Stuff Envelopes

Many non-profit organizations do large mailings for the purpose of raising funds or providing information to members and the public. Someone has to fold all those letters and put them in envelopes. Older adults or their caregivers may be able to pick up the mailings and fold and stuff them at home.

Make Blankets for Shelters and Hospitals

There are several charitable organizations that make and collect homemade blankets for people in need. Some are given to hospitals and hospices to provide comfort to their patients. Some go to women’s shelters to cheer women and children displaced by domestic violence. Even if the senior doesn’t sew, they can make blankets from fleece that are tied at the edges.

Write Letters to Service People

There are many men and women in the military who appreciate receiving letters while they are deployed. Unfortunately, some of them don’t have a family to receive letters from. Your older family member can write letters and cards to servicemen and women. There are organizations that will collect them and send them to soldiers in need.

Make Pet Toys

Shelters are always in need of toys to provide enrichment for the pets who are waiting for homes. There are plenty of DIY instructions for pet toys available on the Internet that caregivers can help seniors find. Some pet toys can be made from items the seniors may already have in their homes.

Call Neighbors and Friends Living Alone

There are also plenty of ways older adults can help others without becoming involved with a non-profit organization. One thing they can do is to simply call friends and neighbors who may be lonely. Plenty of people live alone and need more social interaction. A phone call would cheer them and your aging relative can also make certain they are alright and not in need of help.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Daly City, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855

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andy@hcprosonline.com

CEO at HomeCare Professionals

Andy Howardis a Bay Area Native who holds a BA in Political Science (University of Colorado at Boulder, ’97). After college Andy worked in the surging tech industry.His Grandmother however, would suffer a significant decline in health and ultimately needed in-home care. The experience of a loved one depending on outside help to age in place proved to be pivotal for Andy as he left the tech industry in 2002 for an opportunity in the home care world with a large provider. After having success in home care, but being frustrated by corporate constraints Andy founded HomeCare Professionals in 2005.He methodically built the company one client at a time by focusing on hiring quality caregivers to ensure positive outcomes. Currently Andy serves as the CEO of HomeCare Professionals and is also highly active in the non-profit organization California Association of Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) which advocates for a higher standard of in-home care for those who wish to remain living at home in California.

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