Seniors enjoy celebrating holidays, and there is no better day to honor love and relationships than Valentine’s Day. As the caregiver of a senior with Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to find ways to celebrate that fit your loved one’s abilities. Consider adding the following activities to your loved one’s daily routine to help him or her get in the spirit of this special day.
1. Make a Floral Arrangement
Flowers are always a cheerful way to brighten up a room, and arranging flowers is a simple activity many older adults find relaxing. Grab a bunch of fresh blooms or choose artificial blossoms if your loved one has allergies. Encourage your loved one to put them together in a pretty vase. Once your loved one is done, find the perfect place to put the vase in his or her home, or he or she could take it to a special friend.
Engaging in Valentine’s Day-themed activities is one of the many ways seniors can boost their overall wellbeing. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional at-home care. Oakville, ON, Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Enjoy a Strawberry Smoothie
Valentine’s Day treats are often full of sugar, and a box of chocolates might not fit into your loved one’s diet plan. Smoothies are a healthier option, and you can add strawberries to the mixture to turn the drink pink. Ask your loved one to help you make the smoothie. Add pictures to the recipe so he or she can do as much as possible independently.
3. Create Handmade Cards
Few things are as exciting as giving and receiving Valentine’s Day cards. Supply your loved one with an assortment of pre-cut shapes and phrases he or she can glue onto colored paper. Make sure to add some decorative accents such as glitter, rhinestones, and stickers to bring out your loved one’s creativity. Help your loved one mail or distribute them to his or her favorite people.
Regular socialization is another way to boost a senior’s cognitive skills and mental acuity. For families living in Oakville, ON, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
4. Listen to a Love Song
Music is soothing to older adults with Alzheimer’s. Love songs promote positive feelings, and your loved one’s favorite song may even prompt him or her to remember a special event from the past. Create a playlist that involves a mix of modern love songs along with a few from your loved one’s favorite era. Play songs throughout the day to encourage him or her to enjoy the relaxing effects of thinking about love.
5. Decorate the Home with Hearts
Your loved one will enjoy seeing his or her house or room filled with an array of hearts in different shades of red and pink. Before Valentine’s Day arrives, have your loved one decorate construction paper hearts in different colors and sizes. Then, you can string them together as a garland, make a poster, or hang them individually in different places throughout your loved one’s space. Every time your loved one sees one of the decorations, he or she will be reminded of the special day.
Valentine’s Day-themed activities are meant to promote health and happiness, but some seniors may not be capable of engaging in these tasks. Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who do not have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. For trusted Oakville Alzheimer’s care, reach out to Home Care Assistance. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. To learn about our premier senior care plans, call one of our knowledgeable Care Managers at (905) 337-1200.