by: Melanie Farley
February is the season of love and a great time to show your loved ones how much you care. For seniors, however, Valentine’s Day can bring up mixed emotions. Many seniors have lost loved ones, so the holiday that is filled with joy and connection can trigger isolation and loneliness for your elderly loved ones.
That’s why it’s extra important to show your senior love and care for Valentine’s Day. Social connection is key to preventing cognitive decline and improving quality of life as we age. So, how can you celebrate the holiday of love with your senior loved one?
Read on for some of our suggestions!
Encourage Self Love
Remember, Valentine’s Day is about more than just romantic love; it’s a great time to celebrate all the love in your life. With that in mind, you might try an activity that encourages your senior to find new ways to care for themselves.
You might make a list together of creative ways to practice self-care like taking a walk, enjoying healthy food, treating yourself to a massage, and more. At Northeast Adult Day Care, we hosted a self care event for Valentine’s Day, and our participants loved it! Thinking about how to love themselves boosted our seniors’ moods, and our participants enjoyed the tips and tricks they learned from each other as well.
Write Poetry & Craft Valentine’s Cards
Give your senior space to channel their inner poet! You don’t have to be a world-class writer to enjoy the craft of poetry, and the poems don’t have to be romantic either. Seniors can write poems to express their love for caregivers, grandchildren, and more.
Take it to the next level by adding some crafting. All you need is festive paper and some basic crafting supplies, and your seniors can create beautiful cards to showcase their poems.
Create a Photo Collage
Over time, your senior loved one has probably accrued quite a few photos. So, you could create a photo collage together, cutting and pasting photos to a Valentine’s Day-themed poster board. This activity would be a great tool for bonding with them, and it would help them remember their lives!
Afterwards, you’d have a beautiful craft project that you could display in the home to remember your happy times together. Crafting is a great to get the creative juices flowing, while providing a lot of mental stimulation as well!
A Final Word…
Whether you’re writing poetry, or taking a walk down memory lane, these activities are sure to make your senior’s Valentine’s Day special. Whatever you do, the quality time spent bonding with your senior will benefit them all year long!
Would your senior loved one benefit from expert adult day care in a warm, welcoming environment? The healthcare professionals at Northeast Adult Day Care can provide skilled care, monitoring, and social interaction for your loved one! Reach out to learn more, [email protected].