How to Help Senior Citizens

Co-authored by Justin Barnes

Last Updated: January 23, 2023 References

As people grow older, they find that they are no longer able to do the physical tasks that they were once able to do with ease. Many senior citizens require assistance with everyday tasks and will need help with getting around and getting things done. They may also appreciate having someone to keep them company and engage with intellectually. Assisting senior citizens with things like household tasks, hobbies, and activities will ensure that they can continue to live rich, fulfilling lives well into the golden years. By looking for ways to volunteer with senior citizens in your community, you may be able to make a difference in a senior citizen's life.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Finding Opportunities to Help Senior Citizens

1
Research opportunities to volunteer with senior citizens. You can do this by inquiring at local nursing homes, places of worship, volunteer organizations, looking online, or asking family and friends if they know of opportunities. Write down any opportunities you find that sound interesting to you.^{[1]
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- Look for opportunities to help senior citizens while also doing something else you love. For example, if you play the violin, inquire with local organizations or nursing homes about opportunities to come play at a residence for a special occasion (such as a major holiday) or on a regular basis.
2
Contact volunteer organizations. Make a list of potential places to volunteer and then start contacting them to find out how you can help. Think about what you would enjoy doing the most or what would give you the most satisfaction and start there. Do you enjoy working directly with people and being very hands-on? Or do you prefer to be in the background and run things behind the scenes? Think about your style and personality and find volunteer opportunities that suit you.
- Look for a phone number on the organization's website. Call and let them know that you are interested in volunteering.
- Send an email to an individual in the organization and ask how you can help. You could say: "I'm interested in helping senior citizens and wanted to ask if you are looking for volunteers." If they don't know, they can most likely direct you.
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3
Offer your services to senior citizens for free. This is especially useful if you are skilled in a trade, such as plumbing or carpentry, and can offer needed services for charity. You can take out a classified ad to advertise your services or talk to others to find out who might be in need of your services.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Assisting with Activities

1
Help with summertime activities. Some senior citizens enjoy being out and about during the summer. There are a variety of activities that some senior citizens enjoy, including celebrating holidays with family and friends, walking out in the sun, and swimming.
- Find out what activities senior citizens enjoy doing and plan something fun to do. You can say something like, “What activities do you enjoy doing during the summer?” to gauge what the senior citizen is interested in and then plan something accordingly.^{[2]
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2
Show them how to use their electronic devices. Sometimes senior citizens receive gifts from family or friends that they do not know how to use because they are unfamiliar with the technology. Ask a senior citizen if they need help with using a device, such as an iPhone, and then show them how to use the device.^{[3]
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- You can say something like, “Can I show you a few things on how to use that phone?” to open the conversation in a way that doesn’t sound condescending. Then, show them how to navigate the device and how to execute important functions, such as placing a call, texting, and using the contact list.
- If you have time and they are interested, show them how to download and play some games or use a fun app.
3
Volunteer at a game night or social event.. Most nursing homes have game nights and social nights that keep senior citizens occupied and socializing with others. Inquire as to how you can help at these events at your local nursing home. It is likely that they rely on volunteers like you to operate these events!

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Assisting with Chores

1
Assist with household tasks. There are certain chores that a senior citizen will have difficulty performing and could benefit from someone’s assistance. Doing things like sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming, washing windows, and cleaning the kitchen will greatly assist a senior citizen.^{[4]
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- You can always say something like, “How about I give you a hand mopping the floors today?” Ask them which tasks need to be completed and set to work getting those things done! ^{[5]
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2
Help out with yard work. Senior citizens may not be able to move, bend, and lift as well as younger individuals. If a senior citizen is living in their own home, they may need help with yard work, especially in the fall and spring seasons. Take a look at their yard and then talk about what things you can do to clean it up and keep it looking nice. You can say, “It looks like the garden has some weeds that need to pulled and the lawn should be mowed soon.” Once you start a conversation about it, you can find out specific things you can do for them.^{[6]
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- Remove debris, like fallen branches, from the yard.
- Cut down branches on trees that are taking up too much space or look like they need to come down.
- Pull weeds in the garden.
- Rake leaves in the autumn.
- Mow the lawn as necessary.
- Assist with snow and ice removal to prevent dangerous falls.
3
Offer to help with gardening. Some senior citizens love gardening and regard it as a beloved and rewarding hobby. A strong pair of hands can be a great help to a senior citizen while gardening. There is a lot of bending of legs, being on one’s knees, scraping, and back bending that an older person might have trouble with or be unable to do.
- Be prepared to work hard and do a lot of pulling and bending. Try wearing knee pads to take the pressure off your knees when working on the ground.^{[7]
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4
Go grocery shopping. Many senior citizens need assistance with grocery shopping because they cannot lift heavy objects very well.^{[8]
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- Talk about the groceries and supplies they will need for the next week or two and then put together a shopping list.
- Offer to drive them to the store or simply go on their behalf. If they go with you, take your time going up and down the aisles and make sure that they have everything that is on their list and more.
- Carry all of the grocery bags into their residence and put the groceries away.
5
Drive them around to complete their errands. If you have a car and a valid driver’s license, set aside a few hours to drive a senior citizen around to do all of their errands. They may need to do things like go to the post office, go to a certain store, go to an appointment, drop something off, etc.^{[9]
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- Before you go out, sit down and talk about all of the places they need to go and what time their appointments are. Then figure out the most efficient way to complete the errands. Be sure to be prompt in picking them up if you first dropped them off somewhere.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making a Long-Term Plan to Assist a Senior Citizen

1
Determine what tasks to be done on a recurring basis. There are certain chores and household tasks that need to be performed on daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Determine what those tasks are, who will be assisting with those tasks, and when. Then make sure that everyone involved adheres to the schedule. If there is in-home help or assisted living, many of these tasks will already be taken care of.
2
Plan for the financial future. Plan finances ahead of time so that the senior citizen is prepared for incidentals and emergencies. Make time to sit down with them and lay out a plan. It is best to be prepared and know what to expect so that a senior citizen is not taken by surprise or left with nothing.^{[10]
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- Review the state of the senior citizen’s finances with him or her. Determine their income, what assets they possess, what bills need to be paid, and what debts are owed.
- Create a realistic budget and financial plan that the senior citizen understands and can stick to.
3
Establish a schedule. Planning out a schedule for senior citizens will prevent them from becoming bored, will give them something to look forward to, and will prevent depression. Whether it be a hobby that they enjoy, lunch with friends or family, or a game of cards, a schedule will make a senior citizen’s life more pleasant.^{[11]
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- Talk to the senior citizen and find out what they want to do more of. If they want to do things like visit friends more often, then schedule some time to visit with friends. Incorporate their favorite activities in the schedule so that they can look forward to something every day. ^{[12]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you talk to an elder?

Justin Barnes
Senior Home Care Specialist
Justin Barnes is a Senior Home Care Specialist and the Co-Owner of Presidio Home Care, a family-owned and operated Home Care Organization based in the Los Angeles, California metro area. Presidio Home Care, which provides non-medical supportive services, was the first agency in the state of California to become a licensed Home Care Organization. Justin has over 10 years of experience in the Home Care field. He has a BS in Technology and Operations Management from the California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.

Justin Barnes

Senior Home Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Talk to an elderly person with respect, kindness, and compassion. Don't give the person commands. It's not your job to demand that they do things like take their medication or go to bed. Instead, use kindness and respect as you attempt to encourage them to do those things on their own. Also, avoid infantilizing the person. Remember that this person is an adult who's lived a full life. Even if they have a cognitive disability, you should not treat them like a child.
Question

How do you talk to an elder?

Justin Barnes
Senior Home Care Specialist
Justin Barnes is a Senior Home Care Specialist and the Co-Owner of Presidio Home Care, a family-owned and operated Home Care Organization based in the Los Angeles, California metro area. Presidio Home Care, which provides non-medical supportive services, was the first agency in the state of California to become a licensed Home Care Organization. Justin has over 10 years of experience in the Home Care field. He has a BS in Technology and Operations Management from the California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.

Justin Barnes

Senior Home Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Speak to an elder with kindness, compassion, and respect. Don't give the person commands. When you're working with an elderly person, it's not your job to demand that they do things like take their medication or go to bed. Instead, you should use kindness and respect as you attempt to encourage them to do those things on their own. Also, avoid infantilizing the person. Remember that this person is an adult who's lived a full life. Even if they have a cognitive disability, you should not treat them like a child.
Question

How do you move an elderly person in bed?

Justin Barnes
Senior Home Care Specialist
Justin Barnes is a Senior Home Care Specialist and the Co-Owner of Presidio Home Care, a family-owned and operated Home Care Organization based in the Los Angeles, California metro area. Presidio Home Care, which provides non-medical supportive services, was the first agency in the state of California to become a licensed Home Care Organization. Justin has over 10 years of experience in the Home Care field. He has a BS in Technology and Operations Management from the California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.

Justin Barnes

Senior Home Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Don't attempt to move them unless you're trained to do so. The biggest mistake I see from lay people who are working as caregivers is that they try to transfer an elderly person, and they either injure them in the process of transferring them, or they drop them or cause them to fall. Instead, call for help from someone who's trained in ambulation assistance.