Spring is either here or almost here and it’s time for many birds to fly back home to their home that was too cold for them in the winter months. Many northern states say spring doesn’t begin until the first robin is spotted, but almost all states welcome back their regular fine feathered friends when the temps rise. While watching and listening to the birds is an enjoyable activity, it can be even better with a companion care at home visitor.
Health Benefits of Bird Watching for Your Senior
Whether in the woods, at a lakeside, or in the backyard, observing birds in their natural habitat provides great sensory stimulation and memory exercises for older adults. Your loved one might find enjoyment in noticing the small visual details of each species of bird. With repeated viewings, she’ll be able to distinguish certain behaviors they have and might even be able to spot differences in similar birds, strengthening her memory muscles and cognitive connections. Listening to the songs of birds can also engage your loved one’s brain. By simply spending some time with birds, your elderly loved one will be getting a great brain workout that boosts her memory, mental alertness, and mood.
Five Ways to Enjoy the Birds Now and All Year Long
Now that the yard is ready and the birds are here, have your elderly loved one ready to enjoy all of their beauty in both color and song by getting her viewing area set up.
Set up an area for the birds that is safe, clean, and welcoming. It might be a bird feeder, a birdbath, a birdhouse, or a combination of several of these. Keep it routinely filled to keep birds coming back.
Have a comfortable seat. Whether it’s on a back porch or by a big picture window, have a seat set up for your loved one that is comfortable and will allow her to stay and observe the birds for as long as she desires. If she is outside, make sure her area is covered from direct sun and has room for a fan or a cool breeze to blow through on the hotter days.
Include easy viewing. Even if the birds are in the backyard at a bird feeder, a pair of binoculars can help your loved one observe the fine details of their feathers or watch them more closely. If she’s watching through a window, remove all the foliage that might block her view.
Have reference resources nearby. Birdwatching is even more fun when you know what you’re watching. Give your loved one a birdwatching book for her area of the country so she can identify and track the birds that show up.
Make room for a friend. If your loved one would like to share her excitement, provide an additional chair nearby for her companion care at home provider to sit with her and spend time together watching the birds enjoy their time in the warmer air.
They can even make it a routine event where your loved one’s companion care at home provider returns at the same time each week to sit with her to watch their feathered friends. Having someone to enjoy these little moments with enriches your loved one’s life and creates a sense of belonging and community.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home Services in Stony Brook NY, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and NYC, including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stony Brook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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