Christmas is the day that holds all time together
— Alexander Smith, a Scottish poet
It’s time for all of us to gather and celebrate our favorite season with fun-filled gifts and memories. Think back to when you were a child. How did your parents celebrate Christmas Eve back in their times? What sort of Christmas activities they used to have?
From sharing stories to baking cakes, you can plan your day. However, now the question arises: how can you make Christmas meaningful for your loved ones? You may be busy decorating your house bells and wrapping gifts while children are busy playing around, making snowmen, and playing with snow. But in this merry season, our older loved ones feel left out since everyone gets busier carrying out their chores.
And now, as you begin to feel the emptiness of your loved ones, you probably must be wondering what could be done to help them. Fear not; we have a solution to eliminate this emptiness. Our home care agency offers help to older loved ones and combats loneliness and isolation while promoting the concept of aging in place in this merry season.
As you continue to read this, you will find a list of Christmas activities for senior adults. In this blog, we have crafted a treasure trove of delightful holiday traditions that you can do with your older loved ones in the comfort of your home. Participate in these activities and keep your loved ones engaged and entertained this winter season.
5 Christmas Activities for Older People
A Short Walk in the Park for Mental and Physical Well-Being
You can take your loved ones out in the evening for a brisk walk. Point out festive lights and sounds with carol hums. Encourage your loved ones to share their childhood Christmas stories. This helps them retain their senses and enhances their memories while boosting their physical energy.
If you have hired a caregiver from a home care agency, ask them to play the role of companion caregiver. The caregivers are trained to provide emotional support to loved ones and eliminate the feeling of social isolation.
Crafty Hours to Encourage Cognitive Abilities
Visualize yourself as a young child who needs the support, warmth, and love of their parents on holidays. Christmas is all about spending time together and creating new memories with the hope of a better future.
But it’s time to be more fun and creative with toys and decor items. From decorating picture frames to making fake snowflakes, fun Christmas craft ideas are always a delight. Encourage your loved ones to participate in these creative activities because they not only create memories but also boost dexterity and creativity in the advancing years.
Recalling Childhood Christmas Stories Promotes Belongingness
If your loved one has difficulty moving around this winter, how about recreating your childhood memories again? Yes, you can do it by simply creating a cozy place near the fireplace, keeping your loved ones under the warmth of a blanket, and asking them to tell a Christmas tale.
Or you can simply read out some classic Christmas stories that everyone can enjoy, or make a skit for your older loved ones to enjoy. As you continue reading this, we are sure you have already got a brief idea of how you would spend Christmas this year. These creative reminiscing ideas promote a sense of relaxation and foster connection in the golden years.
Touch and Feel Games to Amplify Senses
Fill the boxes with various objects, like pine cones, jingle bells, fake snow, and other Christmas toys, and blindfold your loved ones. Ask them to touch the object and guess the name. This boosts their senses and brings back some fun memories from their childhood.
Playing these games evokes a feeling of connectedness and helps them recall their childhood stories when they used to celebrate Christmas with their parents. This activity sparks conversation and boosts their cognitive senses as they travel back in time.
Whisk up some joyful moments with Baking Bonanza
Gingerbread, sugar cookies, Christmas cookies, Christmas turkey, roasted chicken, and so on all sound delicious when the festive season is around. Note down the traditional recipes of your great-grandparents and try them out. Gather family members of all ages, let the warm aroma fill the corners of every home, and make the festive atmosphere more joyful.
Baking cookies and cooking spark great conversation while passing down traditional recipes and creating lasting memories to laugh about.
However, these are just some fun ideas, and you can be creative with them. Ask your loved ones what kind of Christmas activities they would wish to participate in, and be creative with them. Be it cooking, baking, reminiscing about old thoughts, or playing games, be flexible with everything and add some unique touch to it.
As you embark on this festive journey with your loved ones, savor every moment with the warmth of your cherished memories that bloom everything. May your Christmas be filled with joy, blessings, and sparkling lights that are as glittery as those twinkling stars on your Christmas trees.
Merry Christmas!