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May 2014 • www.saukvalleysun.com • Sauk Valley Sun
Community
Parents moving in - Put them to work! Lonnie Miller Parents have a lot to offer when they move into your home. Even if they can’t physically or mentally do all they used to do, there are some very important contributions they can make. Sharing a home means sharing ideas and processes. It may be difficult to relinquish control but shared responsibility can make your house feel like home to all who live there. It’s important to remember that tasks and activities will take much more time than when we tackle those tasks without their help. “Let patience have her perfect way, that you may develop strong faith!” My mother-in-law is active on her prayer chain at church. It’s one of the most important things seniors can still do for their church and community or for your family. Write a list of prayer needs and requests, and keep a notebook so you
can track when and how you see those prayers answered. Maybe your family doesn’t practice prayer in the traditional sense but you could have your parent write cards, notes and letters to family members. Because of physical or mental limitations this task may take several sessions to complete. Stock a basket or your writing area with blank note cards or all-occasion cards and stationery. Add a large calendar (or notebook with pockets), a stash of postage stamps and a list of important dates printed off your computer in a large font. An alternate method, which we use at our house, is to put important dates right on the appropriate calendar square. An additional tip came from Kati Benelli, a Geriatric Activities Specialist who works with seniors every day. “We have a big calendar on the wall and I have a little green frame that gets moved every day to frame the new day. This way
they know what day it is and what’s going on. Bright green is one of the last colors we see, believe it or not. (Especially good for people with dementia.) Also, put together an address book with pictures of loved ones beside each address.” This is easy to edit as needed if you print it off your computer with current photos and any address or phone number changes. Photos help track the growth of children who may live away from home, and changes within your family as kids graduate from school, enter college, get engaged, etc. It helps grandma or grandpa keep up with current events. In our home, I call the spot at our dining room table mom’s “office”. Your schedule may not allow oldfashioned letter writing but a parent who’s willing to do that job can bring a lot of joy to the rest of the family. In this day of cell-phones, text messaging and e-mail,
Rock Falls, Sterling mayors host joint armed forces event May 17-18 in both cities
Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott (left) and Sterling Mayor “Skip” Lee pictured in front of the American Legion Memorial, Sterling, have joined forces to host an Armed Forces Celebration spannng May 17th and 18th. See details on page 20.
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getting a letter or card in the mailbox is still one of life’s sweetest moments. My own mom is also a prayer warrior. Though her physical activities have diminished with changes in her health, she is extremely active in her spiritual life. Always a great cook, my mom is eager to share her recipes and tips for meal preparation or summer canning. This is another way she contributes.
My dad, who deals with COPD, loves to share his gardening and yard-maintenance skills with my husband. Dad drives the lawn tractor with a trailer, hauling equipment and supplies while he and my husband work for hours together in the yard. They both love yard work and dad shares tidbits of knowledge from his years of experience. His past carpentry experience made it possible for him to
offer great ideas about how the new addition on our home should be designed to accommodate my motherin-law. (I think he may want a reservation when it’s his turn to move in, as he had a lot of “opinions” to offer.) Parents need to know they are contributing in a major way to your household. A few adjustments can add life to their years and give you a much-needed respite.
Tony & Mike
Friday-Night Dinners Soup and Salad Bar with All Meals
• Deep-fried Cod • Open-faced Ribeye Steak Sandwich • Deep-fried Chicken
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815-973-8129