This post is sponsored by Ready to Care.
Hi, friends! Today I’m back sharing more about the Ready to Care initiative and how we can all help our aging seniors. Aging adults are definitely on my radar since my parents are both still alive and well, as are Mark’s parents. We watch them get older, but it’s not always an easy process. They are all still living on their own, but we are there to assist them when needed.
Treating our elderly parents and relatives well is something that we should all be doing. Mom and dad have cared for all of us their entire lives and now it’s time for us to give back to them. Doing acts of kindness for the seniors in our lives should be something we all strive to do. Celebrating birthdays is one of those milestones that we look forward to with our parents. Each and every birthday is meant to be celebrated and not taken for granted, so we do make a big deal about birthdays.
Summer is flying on by and we just celebrated my Dad’s 92nd birthday.
Lauren and the girls were home for the weekend, so that worked out great. We love having them home and being a part of family celebrations. It’s not the same without them!
Parker and Iris really do adore their grand parents and it’s definitely mutual. Celebrating four generations is something to be proud of.
Mark and I hosted my family at our house for a celebration birthday dinner for dad and we all enjoyed being together. The weather didn’t cooperate so we ate inside, since it was rainy and wet outside.
We ordered in BBQ for everyone to enjoy and the older adults sat at the table, along with Lauren keeping them company. That’s Bruce’s mom on the left, she’s a year younger than mom and she just turned 90 this year. We enjoyed homemade ice cream with peaches for dessert.
Dad enjoyed being with the family and we were glad to have them over.
Dad opened his birthday cards and we really wanted him to feel special. I’m not sure he wants a big deal made about his birthday, but turning 92 is a big deal so we make sure he knows we are glad to have him.
On Father’s Day, Dad got a few presents that are tailor made for a senior adult. A new cane and his probiotics were presents of the day. This is what you get a older adult when you don’t know what to buy someone who has everything they need. At this age, it’s practical gifts!
Making dad feel special makes us feel like we are caring for them and helping them feel like they are still a big part of our family, which they are. Ready to Care helps inspire people to carry out weekly acts of kindness for seniors.
How can we all do special acts of kindness for the aging adults in our world?
There are several ways to help and Ready to Care assists us all in doing that. I’m happy to get the word out for them in caring for the seniors in our lives and those around us who we may not know.
How Does Ready to Care Work?
- Ready to Care challenges people to complete Care Missions, which guide members through various ways to give to causes that help seniors, learn about the aging crisis and issues impacting the elderly, and serve seniors through small actions or volunteering.
- Most Care Missions are simple acts of kindness, such as opening a door, learning about Alzheimer’s, or helping with a chore.
- Each week, a new Care Mission is delivered right to participants’ phones via text message.
While anyone can benefit from a kind gesture, older adults are at greater risk of experiencing things like limited mobility, chronic conditions, or feeling isolated. Those are the number one challenges that seniors face. Getting proper nutrition is important. Feeling lonely, especially women who are living alone more than men are. Outside of nursing homes, nearly 1/3 of elderly folk live alone. Most seniors who are living in their homes want to stay there and age in place. We would all wish for that too.
Ready to Care encourages people of all ages to reach out to seniors, even if you are an older adult yourself! I hope you’ll all check out the website and see what we can all do to help seniors in our area. Together, through awareness and action, we can make a difference in the lives of senior adults!
Ahh, your parents are too cute! Treasure them You can not do enough for them. I miss mine every day!
Happy Birthday to your daddy, Rhoda. We all feel like we know your parents. I still have my mom who will turn 89 this year. So glad that my grands will have memories of Grandma. I just love the picture of Lauren and your dad….if that does not say LOVE, I don’t know what would. It just makes me smile when I see it.
Thank you, Arlene, I love that picture too. It was a quick snapshot of the moment.
Rhoda, I love seeing pictures of your dear, sweet parents1 You are so fortunate to have them in your life, and you do celebrate them with attention and love!
Thank you, Glenda, we sure try to and as the years go on by, we know that each year could bring changes.
I have enjoyed reading your blog since I first knew about them! Over 12 years, I scarcely ever comment, but wanted to also wish your Dad a happy birthday and a year filled with fun and good health! You are so blessed to have your parents, my father died when I was 40 and my mom when I was 50. They never knew me as a grandmother, they would have so enjoyed our grandchildren! You’re and your sister take such good care of your parents!
Thank you, Myra, for being with me this long and for leaving a comment! I appreciate all of you out there following along. You have all watched my mom and dad over the years too and as they get older, it’s just harder and harder.
Happy Belated 92nd birthday to your Dad! My father in law will be turning 90 on August 29th so I know how blessed and fortunate we are to have our parents still with us. He too has had health issues these past several years but considering his age he is doing pretty well.
While we all want our parents to be able to stay in there home there does come a time when this is no longer practical or safe. My husband feels his dad/stepmom should be in an assisted living. She is 11 years younger but has cancer. She went to look at places and would go but he is fighting it. We live out of state and although they have caregivers coming to the house (nurses, lawn service, some meals) he is falling a lot. They live in a rural area so services are not as plentiful.
Hi, Teresa, oh that’s so hard. They just don’t want to go out of their home and I know what you mean. We don’t know what the next years will bring, but we try to keep an eye on them and we will figure it out as a family. Not an easy journey.
It was a tough decision in 2015 to move my 89yr old mother to assisted living. We had visited several in the area and decided on one that would allow her to bring her 2 cats as long as she was able to take care of them. At the time, she could walk with a walker and her dementia wasn’t that too bad. However it progressed fairly rapidly and she did not like the isolation from friends and family. My brother and sister-in-law agreed to take her into their ranch home.
It worked beautifully (yet stressful) for 3.5yrs including the last 7 months required in-home hospice. It was a team effort to look after another adult managing care, 24/7 caregiving and everything else. I have a much greater appreciation for family’s under these circumstances and the lack of services that are available. My mom passed away just before her 93rd birthday. Her quality of life had deteriorated so much and it was very sad to see the demise. It’s terrific your parents are still in such good shape, together, smiling and enjoying activities. Thank you for sharing.
Teepa Snow’s online videos were very insightful and helpful for understanding dementia, Alzheimers and providing better care.
HI, Teresa, thank you for sharing. It’s so hard to watch them deteriorate. We are seeing that with dad too, he’s just not the same. But we will try to keep them in their home as long as possible and then figure out what the next steps will be. I know you understand.
What a great celebration for your Daddy’s Birthday–Happy 92!! Both your mom and dad look so healthy and happy, and having family so close is so wonderful for them and you. How special Lauren and her girls can visit often…
Happy Birthday to your dad!. What a blessing. My dad died when I was 17 so I cannot imagine what it would have been like to live my whole life with him. I know your family is grateful to have so much time together.
We have a local ministry in my area that helps seniors. They do everything from helping with yard work, home repairs, ect to visits & celebrating birthdays. It’s an important & needed ministry with so many more aging people these days than ever before. I love how individuals, churches & businesses work together so well. Here is their website if you’d like to check it out for ideas. https://www.kindatheart.org/?fbclid=IwAR31xe3SvhUSRu32FCbCj_UxqTh8imf_-2KeUNOUL5hP3A3RWShIw8Ct9Eg
HI, Jenny, that’s really great. The wonderful thing with Ready to Care is that they are all over the country and people can sign up to help in their communities.
I love giving back to others and i love doing for seniors. Presently im a home health aide take care of a patient who visually and hearing impaired. I love my job
HI, Bernadette, that’s great!
It always warms my heart to see your mama and daddy. Thank you, and please pass along my birthday wishes to your sweet daddy!
Rhoda, I enjoyed the pictures sooo much. I was going through my parents’ old SEBC yearbooks not long ago. Your mom was such a beauty and just a young girl with an adventurous life ahead. Four generations later, she’s still a beauty. Love to all!!!
Hi, Judy, thanks for coming by, always good to hear from you! Mom was a beauty for sure!
Happy Birthday to your Dad! They are looking great! My Mom will be 95 next month! Still Blessed to have my Mom! Love your Blog. Parker is getting so tall! May God Bless you with many more years with your parents!
happy 92nd to Rhoda’s dad! So good to see the great-grands showering love. We all have a ‘story’ and most have the same ending. It’s our decision as to whether we make the best of it or stew over past regrets and only-ifs. Happy days lived best every day!