How to show respect for the elderly

Some important tips that we forget during busy days

Do you remember the childhood lessons in which we learn to be human? In which we are told to listen to the elders, to respect them, to give our seat in the public transport to the elderly and to help them when they cross the streets? Do you remember that they taught us respect for those who raised us but also scolded us if we did not respect the opinion of adults and forgot to offer help to those in need?

Of course, you remember. The unwritten rules are passed down through the generations, but the generations have changed. The information age has put technology at the forefront of communication between us and face-to-face meetings are no longer so necessary. Today, we have to deal with busy schedule, family, work and the hundreds of messages from acquaintances and strangers with whom we constantly talk virtually, among other things. We postpone the live meeting with close friends for tomorrow and we schedule the meeting with relatives for next week (in the best-case scenario). Our nature has changed, respect has not disappeared, but it has ceased to show. This appreciation with which we were raised seemed to cease to be a core value and constant work and sideline activities replaced it.

We often forget not only that our close relatives need care but also how to talk to them, what etiquette to adhere to, we forget the warmth they need. Read the next few points with tips on how to show the respect you certainly feel and answer yourself – how often do you do it?

  1. Spend time with adults and listen to them (carefully)

Many older people begin to feel lonely when they retire and no longer have the same social circle of people they are used to seeing or have already lost a spouse and friends. Nevertheless, in order to be happy and not feel unimportant, they need socialization. Many become isolated over time, but this only leads to deteriorating health. It is important to take time to visit your loved ones if you do not live together. As you spend time with them, you give them purpose, make them feel needed and satisfied that they can help you or tell you a story from their rich life experience. Don’t forget to listen, the conversation may be useful for both of you.

  1. Eat together

Eating together is one of the oldest family customs not only in our country but all over the world. Remember that for adults, the preparation of the table and the most delicious traditional dishes is extremely important. Do you remember how many times your grandmother asked you if you were hungry? Even if you are not – you eat. You show respect for the diligence of the person who cooks with love. Take time for a family lunch or dinner, you if prepare them – invite your adult relative to help you in the kitchen. It will make them feel significant. Show them that their culinary experience is unsurpassed.

  1. Discuss family heritage, history, traditions

There is undeniable power in the history of every family. Telling forgotten stories from the past will not only revive the conversation but also strengthen the ties between the generations. Studies in the USA show that children who have more knowledge of their family history tend to show greater emotional resilience, cope much better and faster with challenges and stress. This is due to the fact that they have much stronger sense of where they come from and who they are.

When you spend more time with your elderly loved ones and immerse yourself in the story, you will see how interesting the puzzle can be – putting together forgotten events and emotions. You will see how similar the past and the present actually are but how different the approaches of the generations are, and the narrated experience is never superfluous. Show your loved ones that you want to preserve what they have preserved over the years.

  1. Call them

If you live far away from your older loved one and are not able to see them regularly, pick up the phone and call them. In our hectic lives, we forget how much it means when we take the time say hello and talk. Phone calls are a personal way to show that we care.

  1. Your relative is in a nursing home. Visit them.

The positive side in homes for elderly such as Blocks Dragalevtsi Village is not only in the special care that is provided for residents, but also the atmosphere, the houses, built comfortably and for people who come to visit their relatives. There is no specific day or time to visit – everyone can visit a loved one as if visiting him in his own home, bring something to eat, walk with him in the mountains or take him to the theater or dinner in the city.

Adults do not go to old people’s homes to be “handed over” to someone else’s shelter and care but to help families who cannot offer full attention to the needy in their daily lives. Not because they don’t want to but because they can’t. This does not make us bad but on the contrary, it makes us responsible for the needs our mothers, father, grandmothers, etc. If you have reached a similar decision for you loved one, show him love by visiting him in his new home, pay attention to his activities, new hobbies, new friends, ask what he needs and try to let them know that they are there because they deserve it. They deserve to be in good hands.

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