Father’s Day is when we show our appreciation for the men who raised us, but there’s no getting around the fact that this year might be a little different. COVID-19 forced us all to re-evaluate how we interact with loved ones.
Though some restrictions have eased, coronavirus is still a threat. Vulnerable populations, including elderly people, can’t afford exposure to the virus. In Alabama, safety has been a major concern for nursing home residents and all their loved ones. It’s in this context that we need to consider the safest way to celebrate Father’s Day in Alabama.
Even if we can’t spend time in person with our fathers, we can find creative ways to celebrate this special occasion and show our appreciation without exposing our loved ones to unnecessary risks.
Ideas for Celebrating Father’s Day in 2020
Here are a few ways you can celebrate Father’s Day safely in the midst of a pandemic.
Communicating Remotely
We’re fortunate to live in a time when connecting with loved ones requires only a couple of clicks. It’s been a lifesaver during the coronavirus outbreak. To keep at-risk parents safe during Father’s Day, we can use technology to celebrate the occasion.
Spend some face time through FaceTime (or other video chat platforms).
Video chats have become a preferred method of remote communication. If you have children, and you want to give your father a chance to see his grandkids, then few forms of communication can top video chat.
If your dad has a device capable of hosting video chats, a live hangout session might be in order. Choose from your platform of choice, whether that’s FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or GoToMeeting.
Place a call instead of a video chat.
There’s a reason we’re making a distinction between video chats and old-fashioned phone calls. It’s tempting to think of video chats as a phone call with the added benefit of video. But during the pandemic, many people found that phone conversations offered a deeper connection with loved ones.
Why are phone calls making a comeback? When you aren’t concerned about your appearance or surroundings, you focus on actual conversation rather than the image you’re viewing. If you want distraction-free talk, a phone call might be your method of choice.
Really Mean It When You Ask, “How Have You Been?”
Being apart and isolated from loved ones for months at a time can be difficult on mental health, but it’s also important to look for signs that something worse may be going on. If Dad seems to have lost a lot of weight suddenly or appears unkempt on screen, sounds confused, or seems unwilling to talk, it may not be coronavirus-related but could be symptoms of neglect or abuse that have gone unnoticed.
Giving Gifts
Though your presence might not be possible, your presents can still be delivered (pun intended). When it comes to Father’s Day gift-giving, you have several options to show you care, even if you can’t be there in person.
Send a gift through delivery.
Once you have a gift in mind, just buy it from an online store and have it shipped his way. The gift never needs to pass through your hands. If you want a gift that keeps on giving, consider a monthly gift box for your dad. There are monthly subscription services for books, clothing and grooming, and a wide variety of hobbies.
Send your father’s favorite food.
Not all foods can be delivered before they spoil, but there are exceptions. Some desserts will hold up well during shipment. If the nursing home allows it, you can bring a dish to the nursing home and have a nurse or attendant deliver it to your father’s room.
Send an online gift card.
If your dad likes to do his own shopping, then an Amazon gift card or other gift card option will give him some flexibility.
Create something original.
If you really want to give your father something unique, consider creating a gift with your family members. You can frame a family photo that your father can proudly display on his wall or a scrapbook that he can flip through whenever he feels like it.
Shared Experiences
When in-person shared experiences aren’t an option, you can still make time to watch the same movie, TV show, or live event with your dad. You might want to text each other while watching, keep a video chat going, or simply have a conversation afterward to talk about what you just watched.
Prioritizing Your Father’s Health Above All Else
Though life is getting back to normal, we still need to protect the health of our most vulnerable. Your father would likely prefer to see you in person, but keeping your distance is still in everyone’s best interest. Hopefully, you now have a few ideas to make this Father’s Day a memorable one.
We Help People Mistreated in Nursing Homes
Do you suspect your father hasn’t been getting the care he needs at his nursing home? Is he being denied treatment or neglected while you are unable to visit?
At Sawyer Law Firm, we believe that every nursing home resident deserves respect and high-quality healthcare and personal treatment, especially in a health crisis like we are currently experiencing. When families believe their loved ones are being abused, neglected, or injured in an Alabama nursing home, they can contact our attorneys to discuss their legal options.
If you need legal assistance, contact Sawyer Law Firm today to speak to J.P. Sawyer at no cost.