Five Father’s Day Ideas for Families with an Aging Loved One (2017)

Father’s Day is right around the corner! With thousands of Dads, Pops, Paps and G.G.s calling Concordia skilled nursing, personal care and retirement communities home, we’ve discovered that one of the most popular things you can give the older father (or father figure) in your life is the gift of time spent together.

With that said, we’ve put together a few Father’s Day gift ideas that you can do with your senior loved one this, or any other, weekend – if the weather cooperates, of course.

1. Take a nature/wildlife walk

Nature walks are an activity that most of the family can participate in together. In the western PA and eastern OH area, we have great trails, long and short. Just to name a few around Pittsburgh and Butler: Ohiopyle, Three Rivers Heritage Trail, North Shore Riverfront Park, Deer Lakes Park, Point State Park, the Butler Freeport Community Trail, North Park and more. In the Copley/Fairlawn, OH region, a few options include Copley, Community Park, Bicentennial Park, Croghan Park, Green Leaf Park and MANY more. There are also plenty of beautiful outdoor spaces and walking trails at many of the Concordia locations.

If you go this route, try to choose a flatter path that has seating along the way, in case anyone needs a break. Pack some bottled water and a few snacks as well.

2. Go fishing

Another great way to get some fresh air – without expending as much energy – is fishing.. In many of the parks previously mentioned, there are ample fishing spots available. Concordia at Cabot also has a fully-stocked pond right on the campus that residents and their families fish out of regularly.

If Dad has trouble getting around, be sure to pick a fishing spot that is easy to get to. If you’re going out on a boat, make sure it has sturdy seating and isn’t too difficult to get in and out of.

3. Have an old-fashioned cookout

Are these outdoor activity ideas making you hungry? Then spend the day kicking back and grilling out. This is sure to bring back memories of your father teaching you to grill when you were growing up. Now, you can show him how it is done – or better yet, have him finally give you a few of the grilling secrets that he’d never share earlier in life.

Be sure to check to see if Dad has any dietary restrictions and plan your menu accordingly. Regardless, try to include a few healthy, low-salt options.

4. Take in a baseball game

What do Dads love more than a day at the ball field? Tickets to Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians games are almost always available. There are also a couple nearby minor league teams you could check out: the Akron RubberDucks and the Butler Blue Sox.

Be sure to ask when ordering your tickets if the facility and seats are handicap-friendly or wheelchair accessible if your father requires those accommodations. Also, if attending a game during the day, ask if there are seats that are in the shade during that particular time of day.

5. Visit the old neighborhoods

If it’s close enough to wherever Dad is living now, pick him up and spend the afternoon visiting the neighborhoods where he grew up and where you were raised. You can talk about how things have changed, share memories, learn about his younger years and ask him for advice on the next stage of your life.

Make sure the old neighborhood is still a safe place to visit; you may want to avoid this one if you think it won’t evoke POSITIVE memories. If not, bring Dad a bunch of old photos to go through together.

Do you have another idea? Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page! No matter what you decide to do, make sure you take a few pictures (if you’ve got a Dad who doesn’t like being in photos, just ask for one!), talk about life, STAY OFF YOUR PHONE and enjoy your time together!

From all of us at Concordia to all the Dads out there: Happy Father’s Day!

Do you think you or a loved one may be a good fit in the Concordia family? With locations throughout Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, discover what our senior living communities can offer and arrange a tour of your local Concordia location today! Learn more about our Care Levels & Services, call our Administrative Headquarters at 724-352-1571 or message us through the Contact form on our website.