Allowing ourselves to embrace our inner child is good for the soul. Our senior loved ones have just as much of a right to enjoy Halloween as anyone else and they will have just as much fun doing it. We've got some safe and exciting ways for elderly adults to participate in all of the entertaining Halloween festivities this October. Call up your loved ones now and start planning!
Make Creative Yet Comfortable Costumes
Dressing up is the best part of Halloween and seniors can safely join in on the fun. Cost-efficient and easy, a simple black outfit will pair nicely with these cat ears and tail. If they use a walker, you can make it into a DJ stand complete with old records and fake buttons. Simply tape a piece of cardboard on top of the handles and go thrifting for some old vinyl. If they use a wheelchair, make it into a go-kart... and if you want to take it up a notch, dress them as Mario or Luigi for a fun Mario Kart costume.
Decorate Pumpkins
Carving pumpkins may be more difficult for seniors, so we suggest skipping the knife and using paints and fun decor to create their own magical Jack-O-Lantern. There's an abundance of creative crafts out there, like these foam stickers with a variety of funny faces; or this pumpkin paint that will allow their creativity to flow.
Decorate Baked Goods
The great thing about baking is you can cater it to the season and have fun with different themes. These Halloween cookie cutters provide a variety of fun shapes to decorate using green, black, and orange-colored frostings. Pick up a decorating kit at the store and enjoy a yummy treat. This is a great activity grandma and grandpa can do with grandkids as well.
Halloween Games
Trivia is a great game to play with seniors, as it sharpens their memories and takes them down memory lane. Base your questions around old classic horror movies made by Alfred Hitchcock or even certain memories you and your family have, i.e. what did everyone dress up as, last Halloween?
Watch a Classic Horror Movie
The horror movies made these days fail to compare to the innovative films made when our grandparents were younger. They didn't need all of the gore and blood to get the hairs on the back of our neck to stand up. Instead, they relied on deeply frightening and entertaining concepts such as Frankenstein or The Birds. Host a movie marathon for your senior loved ones and show all of the nostalgic horror classics.
Social Distancing Trick-or-Treat
If social distancing is a priority for the senior in your life, consider doing a reverse trick-or-treat. This would take a bit of coordination with your neighbors but could be quite fun. Essentially, adults would drive by the houses and throw out candy, similar to a parade. You could also have someone you know live-stream their trick-or-treating while grandma and grandpa watch from their laptop. Lastly, post up some lawn chairs in the front yard to observe all the festive costumes, while a bowl of goodies sits six feet away.
Getting together with people you care about is fun no matter what, but celebrating Halloween with them provides another level of wholesome entertainment. Encourage your senior loved ones to celebrate by getting creative with activities. Senior Helpers Salem wants to see your loved ones thrive and not only provides quality medical care but senior companionship as well. Call today to hear about our range of services aimed to bring you and your loved ones joy.