Ensuring a Successful Thanksgiving for Seniors
November 18, 2021Fun Activities for Senior Adults this Fall Season
Happy fall ya’ll! For many, it is their favorite season of the year. The temperatures begin to drop, the foliage on the trees turns bright and fiery, the days grow shorter, and fun fall activities abound. This time of year is no different than any other when it comes to finding fun activities for senior citizens. It’s important that they also get to enjoy everything fun that comes with fall.
As adults age into their “golden years”, it doesn’t mean they are no longer interested in participating in fall festivities. Quite the opposite is true. They may even feel more left out when not included in Halloween and trick or treaters, visits to the pumpkin patch, hayrides, and yes – even everything pumpkin spice flavored! With so many fall activities, it’s easy to find something to include your senior loved one, regardless of their ability.
We’ve listed below just a few of the fun things you can do with your loved ones. Each provides a good opportunity for mental and physical activity, as well as socialization and family bonding.
1. Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard
Invite your senior loved one along for a trip to a pumpkin patch or apple orchard. It’s a great way to spend time together as a family, and they will love seeing the joy on little faces when they pick the perfect pumpkin. Many of these places have playgrounds, shops, mazes, and other activities. Even if your loved one requires a wheelchair, they can still be included as they watch the children play or pick their pumpkins, or try a tasty treat from the onsite shop.
You can continue the fun after the pumpkins and apples are taken home. Get them involved in the pumpkin carving or painting, or bake tasty treats with your freshly picked apples.
2. Decorate for the season
Everyone loves seasonal decorations, and chances are your loved one has fond memories of decorating for fall and Halloween. Decorating for the season is a great way to celebrate and set the mood for any season. Even if your loved one is an assisted living or skilled nursing community, you can still decorate their space with the lovely colors of fall.
If the senior is capable, consider making your own decorations. Crafting is an affordable way to get your loved one involved and feel excited about the season. Dollar stores have lots of cheap fall-themed arts and craft supplies this time of year. The level of crafting skills you have really doesn’t matter – it’s about spending time together and strengthing the family bond. Including the grandkids is an added bonus! Seniors love telling the little ones stories from their childhood, and you may even hear a story you’ve never heard before.
3. Spend time outside
With the sweltering heat of summer days, many senior adults find it much more difficult to stay outdoors for an extended period of time. The season brings cooler temperatures, allowing them to stay outside comfortably for a longer amount of time.
If your loved one is able, walking is a free way to get them outside and moving. Walking has many proven health benefits as well. Taking a walk around the block or on paved trails at a public park are great ways to get them out into nature to enjoy the fresh air. If they require a walker or wheelchair, many of these parks are handicap accessible and wheelchairs are easy to use on flat, paved trails.
If your loved one isn’t able to travel to a nearby park, why not pack a lunch to enjoy outside on the porch or patio when the weather is nice? Bring along a pumpkin spice latte for an extra fall treat!
4. Puzzles and board games
Fall-themed puzzles are a great way to set the mood of the season and enjoy time together as a family when the weather is wet and cold. These puzzles can be put together as a group, or solo when loved ones aren’t able to visit. Puzzles are also a great way to stimulate cognition.
People of all ages enjoy board games and they are a great way to spend family time together on a chilly autumn night. Bring along age-appropriate games to include younger family members as well. You can host a family game night that includes tasty fall-themed snacks, or play a game one on one. Fun board games to play with seniors include Monopoly, Sorry, Checkers, Chess, and Battleship.
Conclusion
There are so many activities to enjoy this fall season. We hope you are inspired to find something fun and engaging to do to enjoy all that fall brings to keep your senior loved one happy and engaged, both mentally and physically.
Here at Elderberry Healthcare, our staff and residents are excited about the fall season. We provide regularly planned social, cultural, and spiritual fall-themed activities for all abilities. Elderberry Healthcare was established in 1989 to serve the needs of Madison County and the surrounding communities’ senior population. Many families in Madison County have experienced the compassionate care and attentiveness that our staff provides. Contact us today to learn more.