Halloween is many people’s favorite holiday. When else do you get to dress up like whoever you want? Colored wigs, fun makeup, and crazy costumes are all special parts of this time of year. Help your senior loved one celebrate at home with these tips:
Organize a Costume Parade
It’s almost as fun to see other people’s costumes as it is to dress up yourself. Many seniors would love to check out the cool characters fellow residents become for the night, so consider setting up a parade. If the weather is nice, have everyone promenade along the sidewalk during daylight hours for fun photo opportunities. Or, walk (or wheel) the halls so every resident can participate. You could also organize a grandkid version of the parade where grandparents can see their little ones in costume while they line the halls in comfy chairs. Seniors could even hand candy to visiting kids as they admire the fun outfits.
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Decorate
Many senior living communities have a decorating committee that meets to plan and execute seasonal decor. Sprucing up hallways, dining areas, and game rooms with festive elements is fun. For fall, seniors can think of the harvest with cornucopias, hay bales, and bunches of fake leaves. Halloween decor could include spooky elements like ghosts and ghouls alongside carved pumpkins. Seeing these accents around the community will help bring cheer to residents, visitors, and staff members.
Jack-o-lanterns are a blast to make and enjoy.
Host a Pumpkin Carving Contest
One of the more memorable parts of Halloween for many people is getting to gut and cut a pumpkin. These giant gourds transform from smooth and adorable to scary and horrible with just a few knife slices. Safety is a key element here, so work with the senior community staff to have extra young hands on deck that day to help carve. Seniors can take a stab at carving pumpkins themselves or simply choose the design and have a designated helper execute the plan. You could even do this on a fall family day so seniors’ loved ones can get involved.
Set up a Photo Booth
All the fun events these days have photo booths. These silly attractions are popping up everywhere at weddings and even the zoo! Create a photo booth at a senior community by setting up a spooky background like a patterned sheet covered in bat images. Then, bring on the props. From pumpkin-shaped eyeglasses to black and sparkling orange boas, get creative! Funny glasses, hats, and fake facial hair are all popular options. Residents can use their phones to take pictures or have someone take shots with a more professional camera. Share fun community portraits with the staff, and they may write a blog post and share a photo album of the day on social media.
Don’t forget the best part of this holiday—candy! Ensure your senior loved one is well-equipped for haunted visitors with various treats. Think sugar-free treats for diabetic fellow residents, plus chocolate and maybe some sour gummies.
