Seniors often enjoy visiting with family and friends in the comfort of their own home, but sometimes, it’s nice to have a change of scenery. This is particularly true after a long winter, when many seniors have largely spent time indoors aside from medical appointments and other necessary outings. Taking your aging loved one to a restaurant requires extra effort, but it’s worth it for their enjoyment. After all, it’s important for seniors to engage with their communities and feel included in family outings.
If it’s been a while since your aging loved one has dined out, you may want to do some extra planning and preparation. Here are a few simple tips and reminders from the Living Assistance Services team. If you have any questions about homecare services in Toronto, Mississauga and the surrounding areas, please contact us. We’d be glad to speak with you. Thanks for reading, and please share this post with anyone who may find it useful!
Tips and reminders
If you’re ready to take your aging loved one to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, here are some tips and reminders to help make it a pleasant experience for everyone.
- If they haven’t been to a restaurant in some time, consider starting with a small group. Dinner for four may be less overwhelming than a table of ten!
- Consider the environment: a small, quiet restaurant may be more comfortable for your loved one than a loud, busy space. A short driving distance is ideal, too!
- Call ahead to see if the restaurant is fully accessible including the entrance, seating options and washrooms. Some restaurants have an accessible entrance but inaccessible washrooms, so it’s best to ask questions based on your loved one’s specific needs.
- Consider bringing along a small cushion or back support—this will be helpful if the restaurant has uncushioned seating options (i.e. wooden chairs, hard plastic chairs or a stiff bench). If your loved one is comfortable, they’ll have a much better experience at the restaurant.
- Review the menu and ensure that it meets your loved one’s dietary and accessibility needs. You may want to tell them what’s available ahead of time, giving them time to think about what they’d like to eat.
- If your family member uses accessible cutlery at home, consider bringing it to the restaurant. If they struggle with the physical act of eating, consider taking them out for coffee, tea or a smoothie instead.
- Remember to bring along any medications that need to be taken at dinnertime. A pill case or blister pack makes this easy to do.
- Try to plan your outing around your aging loved one’s regular meal time to avoid disruption to their routine. This may mean eating earlier than you normally would, but it’s just one night!
With a little planning, taking older family members out to eat can be a pleasant, low-stress experience. They’ll appreciate the change of environment and sense of inclusion, and you’ll enjoy sharing a meal with them. Whether you try this for a special occasion or on a random Tuesday evening, we hope these tips are helpful!
Contact us to learn more about high quality homecare in Toronto
Living Assistance Services is dedicated to helping Canadians live safely and independently for as long as possible. Our skilled, compassionate caregivers treat each client with dignity and respect, ensuring that their needs are met and enhancing their quality of life. If you’d like to hire a Personal Support Worker (PSW) to assist your aging loved one, please contact us. Our care team would be glad to answer your questions and provide a quote.