This forthcoming weekend is a very special one for people all over Canada. Generally, Thanksgiving entails gathering together with the family for a big meal. As its namesake implies, the holiday also involves giving thanks. And while the coronavirus pandemic may make it hard for some families to gather in the large sizes they’re used to, one thing remains constant. Thanksgiving is about family.
Of course, many Canadian families contain elderly loved ones. It’s important for them to be part of the Thanksgiving festivities in ways that are both fun and safe. Here are three fun Thanksgiving activities for the elderly:
1. Get started on your Jack-o’-lanterns.
Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday that is bound to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Many Canadians will be skipping trick or treating, this Halloween, in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. As a result, Halloween will have to be celebrated in other ways. Carving pumpkins is a great way to enjoy the season. Gather the family together this weekend to start creating jack-o’-lanterns.
“This activity will be a fun way to bring the family together,” insists Joy Intriago on SeniorsMatter.com, “Most seniors will be able to participate in the simple activity of decorating a pumpkin, perhaps with a little help. Sitting around a table with laughing, fun-loving relatives old and young, makes the activity most worthwhile. After all the pumpkins are decorated, they can be grouped together in a display either outdoors or indoors.”
2. Play a Thanksgiving dinner game.
Games stimulate the mind. Not to mention, they help to increase the enjoyment of family get-togethers. Now, we all know that playing games at the dinner table isn’t exactly an appropriate undertaking. So why not set up a Thanksgiving game that takes place before dinner? As Kimberly Miller of Home Care Assistance explains, participants will need to sit in a circle when playing this game.
“One player starts the game by saying, ‘At Thanksgiving dinner, I will eat (insert a holiday food),’” she details, “The next person will need to say what the first person said, plus add on another food. When a player forgets a food on the list, he or she is out of the game. The person who says all the foods correctly is the winner. This is a fun and challenging game that can enhance your loved one’s memory skills.”
3. Create some Thanksgiving-based crafts.
Set up an arts and crafts centre in your home. Invite your family’s old and young members to join forces to create some Thanksgiving-themed decorations. This activity, of course, can take place in the days leading up to the big feast. As Intriago points out, many elderly people enjoy creating things with their hands.
“Doing such simple crafts will keep an elderly person occupied and also give him or her the satisfaction of creating something instead of just sitting in a chair,” she notes, “The time and effort to organize and supply such a craft will be well worth it. An elderly loved one will have something to look at and enjoy after the day’s festivities have ended also.”
At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we’d love to help your elderly loved one safely enjoy this Thanksgiving. Learn all about our mobility solutions by calling us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page. Happy Thanksgiving!
