Valentines isn’t just a day for couples, it’s a day set aside to show our love for each other, and it’s a holiday that everyone should have the opportunity to celebrate. Valentine’s Day is a great time to show love and affection to all of your family and friends. Regardless of the stage of life you are in, you deserve to have the opportunity to feel extra loved this Valentine’s Day. We love our residents here at The Gables and are excited to have a chance to celebrate this special holiday with them.
As this holiday approaches it is a good time to show love to your senior friends and family. Even the simplest of gestures can go a long way for the special people in your life. These ideas do not have to be anything grand, but they can be just simple ways to share the love with those seniors in your life.. We have rounded up some fun Valentine’s Day ideas that are sure to make this Valentine’s a special day for the seniors that you love.
Puzzle Time
There are lots of different types of puzzles you can do to spend quality together. We love this free printable Valentine’s word search and this free sudoku Valentine’s printable as well. Solving puzzles is not only fun, but it helps improve memory and reinforce existing connections between our brain cells. The Dollar store is a great place to buy puzzles that you can sit and complete together.
Paper Hearts
Creating a festive environment can make Valentine’s feel more special. Get some colored paper and spend time together cutting out hearts and hanging them around your house. Inexpensive decorations and quality time spent together can be a great way to make Valentine’s Day special for the seniors in your life. Making paper hearts is a classic way to bring love and joy to this holiday and can also be beneficial in strengthening motor skills for your seniors. Using scissors for older adults can help with fine motor skills as well as eye-hand coordination.
Chain Garland
In addition to paper hearts, cutting and creating chain garlands can be fun too! Cut pink and red-colored paper into equal size strips. Interlock them by stapling the ends together and then hang them around the house. This is a great way to utilize what you have already created and take it one step further. Chain garlands are a simple decoration that can add a festive touch whether your loved one is living on their own or in an assisted living facility. Be sure to take some fun pictures with your senior with your custom chain garland to have memories that will last for years to come on this special Valentine’s Day.
Card Exchange
Organize a casual potluck or coffee social. Ask people to bring little Valentine’s cards and do a festive exchange. It doesn’t have to be expensive or store-bought, we found some free adorable printable cards here. This is a good way to socialize and enjoy this holiday while exchanging some fun or heartfelt cards that you spend time coloring and designing with your loved one. Cards also make for memorable keepsakes that can be displayed where your senior lives to remind them of the joy they felt that day.
Bingo
Bingo is a fun game you can play with as few or as many people as you like! This is a simple game that is good for all ages who want to be involved and you can make an entire Valentine’s Day event revolving around Bingo. Take it a step further by making it a heart-themed night. You can get free printable cards from Crayola Use Hershey kisses or Valentine’s candy to mark your spaces! These simple steps can take your average game night and transform it into a festive experience to be remembered.
Stuffed Animals
Consider getting your loved one a stuffed animal. There are many Valentine-themed stuffed animals available that are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. This small gesture can relay how much you are thinking of your senior, even if you cannot be around them all the time. These can make fantastic gifts, especially for someone with dementia. They provide comfort and can be a nice cuddle buddy for those who may get lonely. Stuffed animals last for years and can be a great way to remind your seniors of your love for them.
Be There
Most importantly, your time and presence can add a lot of happiness to a day that might have otherwise been lonely. Sometimes the most powerful and most needed form of love is just being present and being a listening ear. Take the time to show your love for your senior friends this holiday by giving them a visit, or participating in some of these fun activities with them. Doing things for and with a senior this Valentine’s Day does not have to be a big gesture. It is the little things that often go a long way and what they will remember the most. This holiday for some may bring up feelings of loneliness, so going out of your way to include your older loved ones is sure to be something that they will remember and cherish. While Valentine’s Day may seem like a smaller holiday, you have the chance to transform it for those people who are so special in your life. Simple acts like these can make a big difference on this day in the lives of your loved ones.
There are so many ways to bring happiness to the hearts of seniors on Valentine’s Day. At the Gables, we strive to make all of our residents feel special on the holidays and we know the joy that comes from implementing some of these small ideas. Our residents love to have fun and feel the joy that can come from making Valentine’s Day a day to remember. If you have any fun ideas on how you plan to spend your Valentine’s Day, we would love to hear about it! Contact us with your ideas on how you can make Valentine’s Day special for the seniors in your life and make it a holiday to remember!
