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Ormond Manor

12 Ideas + Tips for Fun Holiday Activities with Seniors

fun holiday activities with seniors

Holidays can be fun for everyone

Holiday time can be enjoyable for older adults even if they can’t participate fully in every activity. Feeling included is the most important part of enjoying the holidays. Even if your senior has physical or mental issues, they can still have a good time and feel like part of the group.

Adjust activities for special needs

Some older adults don’t enjoy big groups while some love being the center of attention. Some love to get out of the house and some are homebodies. You know your senior best, so you can customize activities to suit their personality and special needs.

For example, someone with Alzheimer’s may want to stay in a separate room and only greet a few family members at a time to keep things calm and avoid overstimulation.

Another example is a senior with declining vision. They might enjoy being in a busy room while someone describes what’s happening to help them “see” what’s going on around them.

12 fun activity ideas

When it comes to choosing activities, every older adult has different abilities, likes, and dislikes. If you have a variety of options at the ready, you’ll have a good chance of finding something the whole family can enjoy. Here are a dozen ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

  1. Card games

  2. Board games

  3. Reading aloud

  4. Listening to your senior’s favorite music

  5. Prompt kids to ask about “the olden days”

  6. Watching movies together – at home or in a theater

  7. Family walk around the neighborhood or in a local park

  8. Strolling around the mall

  9. Online shopping for things your older adult needs

  10. Enjoying tea or coffee together

  11. Baking cookies

  12. Cooking or preparing food – there are tasks for many ability levels

Pace activities and stick to routines

Older adults have less energy and stamina, so watch for signs of fatigue and suggest breaks or naps. Changing routines can also be tough for seniors to adjust to, so it’s always a good idea to stick to their normal routine as much as possible. Older adults should join in the fun whenever possible, but be careful not to overdo it.

By DailyCaring Editorial Staff Image: Mail Online

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