Welcome back to our blog page for our Manor Lake Athens assisted living and our Manor Lake Athens memory care community. As is always the case, one of the most common frequently asked questions this time of year is “what ideas do you have to make this Halloween holiday special for my memory care loved one”? Well, we thought we’d break out another special edition blog post on the subject in hopes that it provides some ideas that you can put into action.
No Carve Pumpkin Ideas
Pumpkins are a staple at Halloween, but instead of carving them we can just decorate the pumpkin and avoid issues with sharp knives. There are so many ways to decorate – painting, using stick-on pieces, wrapping with materials, tights, lace etc., adding features like tinsel hair, drawing on eyes and a mouth etc., or using household items like tin foil to create a personalized pumpkin etc.
DIY Halloween Treat Bags
Why not make your own trick-or-treat bags and fill them. You can have a lot of fun making them, cheekily sampling the products! Just be careful if your loved one has swallowing/choking issues.
DIY Halloween Decorations
Making your own Halloween decorations can help save money, engage your loved ones, and remove any fear they may have of them. You could even start a conveyor belt for creating decorations where one person takes control of making part of it – like drawing out the shapes, cutting the card, coloring etc. You can make bunting in Halloween colors, paper chains, Halloween cards or simply helping blow up balloons? Whatever your loved one would enjoy!
Halloween Art
Take a shot at Halloween themed crafts like pipe stick figures or paintings of pumpkins, using autumn leaves as stencils or creating a collage etc. These can all help those with dementia, seniors, and the elderly activate their brains, help with hand and eye coordination and connect with tactile materials. Why not try getting the paints out, glitter, and tactile materials to make your own Halloween posters together. Or you can simply print off free Halloween coloring pages to color in together.
Virtual Get Together
If your loved one can’t be with you and you want to keep them reassured. Get together on a zoom, facetime, duo, or echo show party and share tales of your past Halloweens or what you used to do as kids. If they are wearing headphones it could help drown out the sounds outside the home. If you don’t want your loved one to be disturbed at home, then you can print out these no trick or treat poster and stick it up on the front door or window.
Get Out into Nature
Get out of the house – go for a walk, collect falling leaves, small branches, anything to target and put your minds to. Just getting out can help and you’ll have collected things u can use to make things later.
Halloween is Joyous Here at Manor Lake – We Hope yours is Too!
We hope you all are enjoying this Fall season and are looking forward to one of the most fun holidays of the year. Of course, you all are invited to come celebrate your loved one’s Halloween celebration here at both our Manor Lake Athens assisted living community and our Manor Lake Athens Memory Care community. If we don’t see you here, have a great time celebrating at home!