September is National Save Your Photos Month and now is the perfect time for your mom or dad to embark on a new hobby- saving all their family photos! Preserving photos will give your mom or dad a fun activity to do that will also help them save family stories and memories for future generations. If your senior parent needs some help with preserving family photos, shopping for the items needed for their new hobby, or with tasks like cutting companion care at home can help. Companion care at home will help your mom or dad be less lonely at home and help them try new activities.

Some of the things that your mom or dad will need to preserve their family photos are:

Proper Storage

The first step in preserving family photos is making sure they are stored safely. Photos should be kept in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, humidity, and extreme temperatures. That means all those family photos need to be taken out of the boxes in the attic and basement and put in proper storage containers.

Acid-free photo albums and storage boxes are the best choice because they will keep the photos from deteriorating or fading. A companion can help your mom or dad get all the photos out of various boxes and photo albums and put them in organized photo storage containers.

Using photo sleeves made from polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester can further protect photos from dust, moisture, and physical damage.

A Photo Scanner

Digitizing family photos is an excellent way to preserve them. By scanning photos, seniors can create digital copies that can be easily stored, shared, and printed.

High-resolution scanners are recommended to ensure the digital copies capture all the details of the original photos. A companion can help your mom or dad research the best photo scanners and scan in the photos.

Labeling and Organization

Properly labeling and organizing photos is essential for preserving family history. If your senior parent has trouble writing because of arthritis or other join problems a companion can write the names, dates, and stories on the back of each photo.

Organizing photos chronologically or by event in labeled albums or boxes makes it easier to locate specific photos and helps future generations understand the context and significance of each image.

Professional Restoration

If your family hasn’t taken great care of the family photo archive over the years some of the oldest photos may need professional restoration. It’s worth the time and cost to have old photographs restored.

Recording your family’s history is a wonderful way for your mom or dad to share their knowledge, their memories, and their stories with you now and with future generations. Spending time going through old photos to preserve them will bring your mom or dad a lot of joy.

If you can, sit down with them and ask about the stories associated with some of your favorite family photos. Record your mom or dad telling family stories so that future generations will have those recordings in your mom or dad’s voice.

If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Pikesville, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

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Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

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