The spooky season has taken over the world- leaves begin to change and temperatures begin to drop. Halloween is mainly a holiday celebrated by children and youth but why should kids have all the fun!
Halloween is a perfect time to engage seniors into activities to keep their minds stimulated and make them happy. Research shows that crafting fosters mindfulness, eases depression, and may lessen the chance of cognitive decline, according to a 2011 study published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry. If you are caring for an elderly person, here are some simple and fun activities to do – No we are not going Trick or treating!
1.Halloween Crafts
When we think of Halloween, the first image that pops up in the head is carved pumpkins. If the senior does not have any dexterity issues – carving jack O lanterns is a fun activity. If you want to keep the sharp objects away, painting pumpkins in different colours and patterns and even bedazzling them can be therapeutic. Other Halloween decorations like cobwebs, spiders and ghost garlands can also be made by folding and cutting paper and cardboard.
You can find a list of easy Halloween crafts here.
2.Halloween Treats
Besides the scary decorations, Halloween is best known for all the sweet treats. You can do the initial preparations and ask the senior to help with the decorations.
Some yummy treats are Halloween cookies, candied apples, spooky cupcakes, pumpkin pie etc. The elderly can help garnish the cupcake with sprinkles , ice the cake etc.
You can find some Halloween inspired recipes here.
3.Watch quintessential Halloween movies
Spend some time watching movies like Hocus pocus,Cruella or Adam’s Family to keep it light-hearted and spooky or watch the classics from the early era for nostalgia.
Some of my personal suggestions are : Beetlejuice, Goosebumps, Dracula and ghostbusters.
4. Halloween Karaoke
Break out a list of the golden Halloween songs from the elderly loved one’s youth on a Karaoke and sing the evening away.
Here’s a list of spooky songs from the past.
5. Sinister Story Time
Have the elderly scratch their brains and remember the scary stories that they heard as kids or any spooky experiences they might have had . If you have two or more seniors in the house, you can turn it into a contest!
Halloween is not for everybody so the senior might be hesitant taking part in the activities , however if they enjoy the season, these activities will be an instant hit and make them cheery.
Happy Halloween!
FeaturedPhoto by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash