With Halloween around the corner, you’re probably starting to plan the best way to help your elderly loved ones enjoy the holiday. After all, children aren’t the only ones that enjoy Halloween. Seniors love seeing children dress up, handing out candy, putting out jack-o-lanterns, and much more, so it’s important to make sure you give your loved ones a good Halloween. Here are four tips for you to help them enjoy the holiday:
1. Dress Up in Costumes and Decorate
If your elderly loved one is still capable of celebrating holidays, you might consider buying costumes and decorations. You can dress up together and put up some decorations around their home. It’s a great way to celebrate Halloween if they aren’t up to doing much. Or you can encourage them to invite over some friends to have a fun gathering dressed up in costumes.
2. Plan Appropriate Activities
If a senior citizen you know isn’t up for dressing up in a costume this year, you can always plan some activities with them. You’ll want to plan appropriate activities depending on their age and health. In past years they may have been able to hand out candy to trick or treaters. But if their health is suffering, it may be better to set a bowl of candy out on the porch and safely watch with them as trick or treaters go by from inside the house. You can also plan to watch a fun Halloween movie with them, play board games, or cook dinner together to celebrate the holiday.
3. Keep Halloween Simple
If your loved one suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, changes in the environment can make them agitated. Halloween comes with many decorations, loud noises outside, and spooky costumes—all of which are fun but may cause stress to a senior with dementia.
Instead of dressing in costumes or planning activities for Halloween, it may be better to keep the holiday simple. Post a note on their front door indicating that they have no candy to give out, which will keep trick or treaters and the stress that comes with them away from your elderly family member. You can also plan a night in with them to help keep them distracted from any Halloween activities that could amplify agitation.
4. Decorate Pumpkins and Make Festive Treats
Another fun idea is to make festive treats and decorate pumpkins with your loved one. Who says trick or treating is the only way to get treats on Halloween? Whether you make popcorn balls, Halloween-themed trail mix, Halloween cookies, or any other festive treat, it’s sure to make a great memory, and your elderly loved one will get to enjoy some tasty treats as well. As you enjoy your snacks, you can carve pumpkins, too. If it’s not safe for your senior to handle a knife, a great alternative is to paint pumpkins.
No matter what you decide to do to make the holiday enjoyable for the elderly, be sure to keep in mind their age, health, and what they can do. Some elders may want to dress up and take their grandkids trick or treating. But not all seniors are up for activities like that, especially if they suffer from a disease that causes stress and agitation from environmental changes. Always have their best interests in mind when planning for Halloween. For help during the holiday or throughout the rest of the year, contact Visiting Angels for professional home care services.