How do you entertain a nonagenarian? I've been thinking about that lately as I spend a lot of time with my dad since my mom died. When Mom was alive, we spent most of our time caring for her, but now that she's passed it's all about focusing on what Dad loves to do in his 10th decade.
Grandfather tour
One idea I came up with is The Grandfather or Grampy Tour. Since my father has several grandchildren and great grandchildren, I thought we could make it our mission to visit each of them in a place where they are engaged. For example, many go to college now--we could visit their colleges. We can also visit some for their sports games or other interests. And we can take some to lunch. I could take a picture of Dad with each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and make a poster of all those photos to remind him of his family members and the fun we had. Selfishly, this will give me a chance to visit with my children, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Puzzle making
Dad enjoys making puzzles and when we choose a puzzle that matches our interests, that leads to good conversation. We recently completed a timeline puzzle of the big events and notable people of the 20th Century. Next we're making a puzzle of a world map since our whole family loves geography. When family members visit, they often make the puzzle with Dad.
Good food
We all try to bring good food to Dad's house since he loves a tasty, nutritious meal.
Hiking
Dad is an avid outdoor enthusiast and he's in good physical shape so taking walks in beautiful locales is always of high interest.
Drives
Dad has a super visual memory and when we take drives throughout his childhood city and the nearby country, he tells many, many stories of events that occurred in those places. I am a history enthusiast and I love learning about his history and the history of my childhood home via his stories.
Visiting
Dad has many relatives and friends so visiting those loved ones is another great activity.
Celebrations
Since Dad still lives in my childhood home, it's a good place to host family celebrations.
Mom always said, "Enjoy the stage you're in," and it's my hope that Dad and I can share in activities we both enjoy during this stage of life. Onward.