Just because an older adult has dementia doesn’t mean he or she should quit participating in holiday activities. Halloween provides the chance for older adults to interact with younger members of the family and have fun. Here are a few Halloween activities seniors with dementia are sure to enjoy.
1. Making Decorations
Your loved one might enjoy spending time with the grandchildren while making Halloween decorations for the home. Craft projects involve visual and physical tasks that stimulate the brain. Depending on the severity of the dementia, your loved one may be able to cut out shapes and glue them together or use water-based markers or paints. Older adults who were avid sewers might be able to complete simple stitching crafts.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior care Oakville, ON, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
2. Preparing Holiday Treats
Halloween-themed cookies are fairly simple to prepare. Allow your loved one to combine the provided ingredients, mix them, and knead the dough, then cut the shapes together and decorate the finished product. Popcorn balls are also easy to make. The aromas and textures involved with baking and cooking stimulate the brain.
3. Creating Costumes
Let your loved one help with creating costumes for the family’s youngsters. If your parent retains the cutting and sewing skills needed to create certain costumes, he or she may gain a sense of satisfaction from being a part of the task. The visual, physical, and mental skills required for crafting stimulate various brain regions, and the activity could also trigger memories of past Halloweens.
Caring for older adults with dementia can be a challenging task. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Oakville, ON, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
4. Going Trick-or-Treating
There’s no reason your loved one cannot accompany your kids when they go trick-or-treating. Going trick-or-treating provides exercise that boosts cardiovascular health, and it also offers the opportunity to bond with the grandkids. Observing the kids in the neighborhood also brings joy to older adults.
5. Hosting a Halloween Party
If you’re hosting a Halloween party, allow your loved one to help you prepare holiday-themed foods and treats. After a fun meal, sit down to enjoy family-friendly Halloween movies. Maybe part of the evening could be devoted to playing simple Halloween-themed games. Engaging in activities helps seniors feel useful and enjoy better mental health.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Oakville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life. Call us at (905) 337-1200 to schedule a free in-home consultation.