1- Talk about what you both have been up to since your last visit.
2- Bring photos of family and friends from days gone by or recent snapshots.
3- Create a photo album, framed photograph collection, or poster to hang up.
4- Make a special scrapbook celebrating her/his lifetime.
5- Write or tape your older adults biography ... give copies to the family.
6- Share your own favorite stories and memories.
7- Bring vacation photos, souvenirs, postcards, maps, and tales of your travels.
8- Read newspapers and magazines aloud to keep your older adult "in touch."
9- Look at magazines that have a lot of large, colorful pictures.
10- Subscribe to your older adult's hometown newspaper and bring it along.
11- Read religious or inspirational articles, magazines, or books.
12- Read letters from family and friends.
13- Listen to messages from family or friends recorded on cassette tape.
14- Bring a videotaped greeting from family and friends.
15- Help your older adult write or tape letters or send cards to people.
16- Find a pen-pal and help your older adult correspond with this new friend.
17- Create a poster or mobile from pictures cut from magazines.
18- Bring things related to the season or upcoming holiday to do and talk about.
19- Have an indoor picnic with your older adult's favorite picnic foods.
20- Enjoy a cup of a favorite beverage that you've brought in your thermos.
21- Bring the musical instrument you play for your older adult's private concert.
22- Teach your older adult to play an instrument ... or learn together.
23- Sing, hum, or whistle together.
24- Play "Name That Tune" with records, tapes, or music on the radio.
25- Listen to music.
26- Play charades.
27- Wind yarn for a knitting project.
28- Work on a craft project together.
29- Try a new artistic pasttime together such as drawing, painting, or sculpture.
30- Make simple gifts for your older adult's grandchildren.
31- Bring along your sewing basket, button box, or tool kit to organize together.
32- Build a bird feeder or house to hang outside your older adult's window.
33- Bring along a bird book and see how many different types of birds drop by.
34- Bring out the mending while you do your visit - your older adult's or yours.
35- Brush, comb, or style your older adult's hair.
36- Pamper your older adult with makeup, perfume, aftershave, or a manicure.
37- Ask for help in planning your garden and look through the seed catalogue.
38- Plant and take care of an indoor windowsill garden together.
39- Create terrarium to enjoy with very little care needed.
40- Play word and trivia games to keep your older adult's mind alert.
41- Play card games or board games together - lifelong favorites and new ones.
42- Keep a running tally of the scores in your own tournament.
43- Do crossword puzzles together - or on your own - and see who can finish first.
44- Do jigsaw puzzles - one per visit - or a 1000 piece challenge that takes time.
45- Watch television together and talk about the programs you've seen.
46- Keep up on soap operas that your older adult watches and you may miss.
47- Rent a videotape of an old favorite movie or musical to bring along.
48- Go Shopping from catalogues for clothes, household, or frivolous necessities.
49- Go ""window shopping"" in fancy catalogues filled with things you'd never buy.
50- Bring a favorite recipe book to explore or plan a meal together.
51- Bring along a treat made from a recipe your older adult said sounded good.
52- Do some baking or no-bake cooking together.
53- Give your older adult a gentle massage with lotion to keep skin soft.
54- Bring things to stimulate the sense of smell - spices, perfumes, or roses.
55- Bring different textured fabrics to touch - silk, wool, denim, corduroy, or velvet.
56- Set up a slide projector or hand-held viewer for a travelogue.
57- Bring home movies to watch together (Don't forget the popcorn!)
58- Have grandchildren bring or send along artwork or school papers.
59- Bring a pet to visit.
60- Bring a pet that the older adult can adopt - perhaps some fish or a bird.
61- Start a collection or hobby that you both enjoy.
62- Invite others who share the same hobby or interest as your older adult.
63- Do exercises together to keep in shape.
64- Read a chapter of a novel or several poems each time you visit.
65- Write poetry or a short story together - send it off to be published.
66- Look at and listen to an old-fashioned music box.
67- Make a ""joy box"" by filling a decorated shoe box with fun and favorite items.
68- Watch the seasons change out the window together.
69- Take photos of the changing season scenes - or keep a "window diary."
70- Keep a mutual journal of interesting discussions you have during your visits.
71- Make a potpourri together and hang it up to keep the room sweet-smelling.
72- Tell jokes to one another - bring along a joke book if either of you need help.
73- Start a friendly, news-filled ""chain letter"" among your older adult's friends.
74- Bring along an old friend of your older adult for a special reunion.
75- Take photos of your older adult to send to family or friends - ask for theirs, too.
76- Take a walk together outside as weather permits - sit on the porch or patio.
77- Bring along your children or grandchildren and enjoy watching them play.
78- Have someone bring a baby to hold and ""coo"" over.
79- Make scarves, mittens, toys or the like to give to a children's hospital.
80- Celebrate the holidays together with special parties for two.
81- Keep track of favorite sports teams - make a friendly wager on the next game.
82- Learn a new word each time you visit together.
83- Challenge your older adult in a two-person spelling bee.
84- Play along with the television game shows or host your own version.
85- Dance, or tap your shoes, to your older adult's favorite dance music.
86- Bring a travel book or brochures to dream about your fantasy vacation.
87- Use some small rhythm instruments or a kazoo to make your own music.
88- Read the Farmer's Almanac and keep track of which predictions come true.
89- Play tic-tac-toe or hangman.
90- Ask your older adult to share memories of how the community has changed.
91- Make a list of all your older adult's favorite foods, movie stars, and songs.
92- Decide what you both would do if you had $1 million.
93- Design and make your own Christmas or other holiday cards to send.
94- Toss cards into a hat, pitch pennies, shoot marbles, play jacks."
95- Sit and hold your older adult's hand and lend a good listening ear.
96- Try your hand at drawing each other's pictures.
97- Blindfold your older adult in order to guess the flavors of tangy fruit candies.
98- Recite nursery rhymes and songs from both your generation's childhoods.
99- Work on a latch-hooked rug for your older adult's room as you sit and talk.
100- Give your older adult a hug as you arrive and each time you say good-bye.
101- Think of your own 101 things to do while visiting!
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