How to Make Friends With an Elderly Woman

Always show proper manners and respect when talking to elderly women.

Whether it's a female elderly neighbor, church member or someone you help as a volunteer, your friendship would be beneficial to the life of an elderly woman. One major benefit of the friendship is that you have the opportunity to gain wisdom from her that you can apply in your daily life as you make important decisions and build other relationships. The elderly woman benefits by being able to share her life experiences with you and having someone in her life who cares about her well-being.

Instructions

1. Share some of your life experiences with her. For example, if you're a widow who is raising three teenage boys, talk to your friend about how you manage to do this even while you still grieve over your spouse's death. Maybe your friend has some meaningful wisdom she can share that will help you during this process.

2. Ask questions about her life, but don't get too personal. If you know your friend grew up during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras, ask her questions about what life was like for her and other minorities in her neighborhood. Or, if your friend raised foster children for 20 years, ask about her experiences in child-rearing and what advice she would have for you if you're considering parenthood.

3. Show an interest in what she likes to do. If your friend enjoys board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly, get these games for her and set aside two days out of the week to play them with her. Or, if your friend is a huge jazz music fan, purchase some tickets to an upcoming jazz concert by her favorite jazz artist.

4. Get to know her relatives, if they live nearby. For example, if her nephew often visits on the weekends, stop by on occasional weekends to chat with him and your friend so you can find out more about them. Or, if your friend's daughter and grandchildren will be visiting soon and your friend invites you over to meet with them, accept the invitation.

References

• University of Wisconsin; Journalism Students Befriend Homebound Senior Citizens; June 2010
• The Aging Suite; The Importance of Socialization for Senior Citizens; March 2010