Going shopping together: how to make the supermarket a good experience

I take my dad to the supermarket so he can get out of the house, but sometimes it's stressful – he gets lost in the aisles, fills the trolley with duplicate items. Is it worth continuing?

It's really worth continuing: going shopping gives your dad movement, stimulation, choices and – perhaps most importantly – the feeling of still being involved in household life. The goal isn't efficiency; it's the experience. With a few adjustments, the stress can be greatly reduced.

Before you go

Choose quiet times (avoid late afternoons and Saturdays). Take a short, visual list – 5 to 8 items are enough – and, if possible, written in his own hand. Always go to the same supermarket: familiarity with the space is half the battle.

At the supermarket

Give him concrete tasks, one at a time: 'find the apples', 'choose the bread'. Pushing the trolley is excellent – it provides stability when walking and a sense of purpose. If he puts duplicate items in the trolley, don't correct him out loud; discreetly return them to the shelves later. If he wanders off, don't panic: agree on a fixed meeting point at the entrance ('if we get lost, meet at till 1') and dress him in easily identifiable clothing.

When to shorten the trip

On days when the supermarket causes more anxiety than pleasure, shorten the trip instead of cutting it out: just the bakery and fruit, ten minutes, and the 'mission' of carrying the bread. The ritual can shrink – what matters is that it continues to exist as long as it feels good.