We are gearing up for the holiday season. Do you have any plans that include the elderly? Sure, Thanksgiving is the "family holiday" to which all relatives are invited. But why neglect other opportunities?
Here are some ways to get the elderly involved in preparation for holidays, winter, and those long days of being trapped indoors.
Have a Bad Weather Party
Having a big party before the first of the bad weather appears is a way to make some warm memories that comfort all the way through the dreary winter months. Plus, it is a celebration of fall, harvest, and the changing of the seasons.
The perfect way to celebrate would be to have one last outdoor picnic or BBQ. Invite relatives and your loved one's friends. Get everyone together for laughs, music, good food, and some party games. Remember to take lots of photos!
Plan the Holidays
- Take them shopping for supplies.
- Plan menus together.
- Revisit past holidays by telling stories and looking at photographs.
Getting your elder involved in decorating and planning is an excellent and natural way to make them feel like a valued member of the family. Crafting sessions give them the opportunity to use their creative skills to impress others.
And you will cherish those keepsakes. Trust me.
Cleaning and Prep Party
You might not think that the words "cleaning" and "fun" should be in the same sentence. But if you invite some friends over, get your kids involved, and make a festival out of it, then you can turn your fall cleaning into one of the best days of the season.
Not only does this help you get things done more quickly, it is pretty traditional, especially for people who lived in rural communities. Your mother or grandmother may remember a time when neighborhood women got together to help each other prepare the inside of the home for winter, while the men worked outside to make sure that supplies, crops, buildings, and animals were fit to last out the bad weather ahead.
It can still be a comforting ritual, and you can customize it to fit your family and your lifestyle. For instance, you can arrange a frozen meal swap, a recipe jam, or a craft circle as part of the activities.
Visit a Nursing Home
While your loved one is cocooned at home under your vigilant care, hundreds of seniors are confined to long-term care facilities. As the year winds down, they may be feeling lonely and depressed.
Go cheer them up!
One of the many things you can do with your elderly loved one, your children, friends, neighbors and relatives is to build gift baskets or care packages for the elderly in nursing homes.
Just a few dollar store items, a joyful greeting card and a smiling visitor can mean the world. This is also a great opportunity for children to learn about charity and the different types of aging care.
If not a nursing home, then you can consider doing donations or care packages for the homeless or for persons who are homebound due to illness or disabilities.
Take Advantage of Local Festivals
From the beginning of fall throughout the Christmas season, there are usually a number of small festivals that are fun to attend. These may include charming traditional entertainment such as square dances, hay rides, cook-offs, lighting ceremonies, local bands, charity drives, contests, animal shows, and plays.
What About Men?
If you are caregiving for a gentleman who has no interest in crafts or decorating, there are still activities to engage them.
Besides festivals, there may be sporting events to see. Or they may be more interested in outdoor sporting such as hunting and fishing. If possible (and safe) arrange so they can spend a little time outdoors, either with yourself or a trusted friend.
Many men that I know enjoy going to vehicle showrooms at this time of the year. This is when the sparkling new models are on display, and they can stand around and reminisce about the many changes that they have seen over the years.
Check the movie listings and see if there is a new film hitting the theaters they might want to see. If they like more serious activities, such as chess, try to hook them up with a friend who can visit during the winter months for friendly competitions.
Does your father or grandfather look a little bit like Father Christmas? Maybe he might enjoy playing Santa at nursing homes, senior centers, churches, or daycares.
Have a Photography Session
Outdoor photos are always best in autumn. Colorful trees and sharp, blue skies make the perfect natural backdrop. So get your whole family together, go outside, and get some great photos for your mantel.
While you are out there, have a leaf fight. Laughter is the best medicine, and no one can throw leaves without laughing.
Make Fall Fun So Winter Won't be Glum!
Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year, and I hate to think that others are not getting to enjoy it fully. Even if it just means a stroll (or drive) around the block to admire the leaves, fall can be a great season to share with your elderly loved one.
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