Every year, we celebrate August 21st as National Senior Citizen’s Day. A day when we honor the senior citizens who have forged a path we could follow, and those close to us that have contributed their love and wisdom to help us become the people we are today.

There are many ways to honor our senior citizens, and you can choose to honor just those in your family or go to a local senior assisted living center to spend some time with those senior citizens who may not have family visiting them.

• Pay your grandparents a visit

Nothing will be more welcome than a visit. Arrange to spend a day with them so that you can catch up and they can have some company. You can plan the day out – filled with activities they’re fond of – or you can spend the day with them as they go through their daily routine. Either option will allow you to catch up, bond and share some quality time together.

• Call them to have a chat.

Don’t have time or means to visit? That’s ok, give them a call instead. It’ll go a long way in showing them you care, and you can run them through what’s been happening in your life since you last talked. Even a simple call will remind them that you care about their well being.

• Create a family tree

Utilize the time you have with them to build your family tree. Ask them all about the relatives you’ve never met, and take notes so you can keep records of every family member your grandparents knew. They can share pictures of aunts and uncles you never knew about, and help you learn all about where you come from.

• Visit a senior assisted-living facility

Don’t have grandparents to visit on Senior Citizens Day? Visit someone else’s grandparents instead! You can ask your local senior assisted-living facility if you can drop by and chat with some of the senior citizens who don’t have family in the area. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to talk to someone, and it’ll make them feel special knowing you took the time out of your day to hang out with them.

• Do their chores

While everyone appreciates a helping hand with chores, your grandparents or the local senior citizens will appreciate it most. Ask them if they need help going for groceries, or running errands around town. Mow their lawn or rake their garden as these are all things they struggle with in their old age.

There are many ways to show gratitude for senior citizens. Take some time to think about who you can spend the day with, and how, and plan your National Senior Citizen’s Day out with some of these ideas!