Halloween And The Elderly

source stuartmiles via freedigitalphotos.net

One of my favorite memories of working in Long Term Care happened at Halloween. For whatever reason, the facility had decided to really do something special for the holiday, not just cupcakes and punch as per the usual "special occasion".

The office staff and administrators, with the help of night shift had decorated the entire common area while the residents slept. The next morning, 31 elderly and developmentally disabled adults woke to find





 everything from inflatable pumpkins to crepe paper streamers. The tables each had a Halloween colored, vinyl cloth and a honeycomb pumpkin centerpiece, fake spiderwebs filled the arched doorways, cartoony paper ghosts were taped to every door.


When the residents first started appearing after their showers, there were gasps of delight. They clapped, they walked around and examined every decoration, they laughed. That day there were more games played and more activities.

A table was left in the kitchen with Halloween printables and boxes of crayons. There were mazes and other puzzles to work, as well as Halloween craft tables. At some point in the day a local musician came in and entertained for over an hour.

In the afternoon, a party was held in the dining room. The cupcakes and punch appeared, but they weren't alone. There were cookies, balloons, and party games. They "pinned the tail" on a large ghost. A local animal breeder brought in furry friends for a visit.

But what was most popular with the ladies? (we had only 4 male residents at that time.) Individual goody bags. Of course, the guys liked their's too, but the ladies were thrilled to the point of tears. They were always lamenting about trick-or-treaters not coming to the home anymore. They missed that traditional part of Halloween.

This time, they were treated. The bags held a variety of treats, personalized for each resident's needs and likes. From scented lotions to sugar-free candy, Halloween headbands to crazy straws...the bags seemed bottomless.

I'm not sure who footed the bill for the extra treats that year, but it was money well-spent. That evening after a scary movie and popcorn, the residents all went to their rooms, each with a Mylar Halloween balloon and their precious Halloween treats. They were still talking and laughing, and a few slept that night with their Halloween plush animals.

Most people may not realize it, but Halloween can be a special holiday for everyone. Even the elderly need a day that is just for fun.