Your grandmother, elderly parent or a neighbor may need the attic cleaned out, the garden weeded, minor car repairs or sewing projects completed. The time you spend with them may be appreciated as much as the help.
Match Your Interests and Talents to Loved Ones’ Needs
If grandma has complained about the mess in the garage or attic, offer to spend a Saturday afternoon helping with these projects. Not only is it a great help to her, but you can reminiscence together about old photos, packed-away wedding dresses, or boxed-up children’s books you once enjoyed together.
Perhaps an elderly neighbor needs clothes taken in or let out, new curtains hemmed or a table cloth re-sewn for downsized living. If you have a talent for sewing, offer to complete the project.
Spring gardens are on the mind of many elderly people in February. Gift-givers with a green thumb can offer to clean last-year’s foliage out of a loved one’s flower beds and mulch the soil in preparation for spring planting.
If you’re handy with home repairs, offer to tackle leaky faucets, squeaking doors, or other maintenance needs in a loved one’s house. If mechanics is your specialty, offer to tune up grandma and grandpa’s car.
Home cooked meals, especially if they’re shared, are almost always appreciated by seniors living alone. If you like to cook, offer to come to your loved one’s home and cook a gourmet meal to enjoy together. You can also cook up a couple of main dishes to present in freezer containers.
Finally, offer to take your recipient on a leisurely shopping trip with lunch or to an afternoon movie. If there’s a special event they enjoy, make your offer a date to enjoy the event together.
Present your Offer in a Card or Signed Certificate
Make your offer special by sending a card outlining the service you want to give. Writing up a personal gift certificate for three hours of help with gardening or an afternoon of housecleaning topped off by a home-cooked meal can make it even more official. It’s important to let the recipient know that you’re serious about completing the project. Proposing a date makes it almost a completed deal, while the recipient can always change the date if the time you propose won’t work.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for young lovers. It’s an opportunity to show your love and friendship with a gift of service for the elderly people in your life.
Linda McDonnell - I have been a journalist for 20 years, currently freelancing. As an outdoor and nature lover, I particularly enjoy writing about outdoor ...
