According to American writer Paul Theroux, “Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.” He’s right – especially in Michigan where the biting cold, cloudy days, and long nights cause many of us to hibernate at home, cup of tea in hand and slippers on our feet, dreaming of the warmer months to come. There’s a long stretch of time between the hustle and bustle of the winter holidays and the warming spring days, and it can be difficult to find things to do to perk ourselves up, especially for older adults. In order to find some cheer, we rounded up some great Valentine’s Day ideas for seniors.
Simple Valentine’s Day activities include:
- Create a festive space: cut colored paper into hearts, make paper chain garlands, make pink, red, and white sand art jars
- Visit with friends and family: serve cinnamon orange tea or non-alcoholic strawberry punch, and pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate and decorated with valentine candy sprinkles
- Play valentine-themed games: tic-tac-toe or bingo with themed bingo sheets, Valentine’s Day word searches, word scrambles or jigsaw puzzles
- Make valentine-themed crafts: make valentine’s cards, or colorful suncatchers with heart-shaped clear contact paper and pieces of colored tissue
- Watch a romantic movie
Want to bring something for your older adult to enjoy? How about a pretty floral arrangement to brighten up a room? A small sweet treat is a classic option – and there are loads of sugar-free varieties readily available. Many folks with dementia appreciate the gift of a small cuddly stuffed animal to provide comfort, too.
If you are caregiving for an older adult, there is undoubtedly added stress at this time of year. At the Nawrocki Center for Elder Law, Special Needs & Disability Planning, our caring attorneys and staff can help ease your burden and provide peace of mind by providing knowledgeable, experienced, and practical advice to ensure that effective long-term care plans are in place and expectations and goals are clear and enforceable. If you have questions for yourself or a loved one, give us a call today at 810 229-0220.
-- Lisa H. Beatty