7 Holiday Activities to Do with Seniors
Explore our list of holiday activities for seniors to celebrate the holiday season, boost mood, and stay active.
As the seasons change and cooler weather settles in, it’s a great time to plan engaging activities for the seniors in your life. Fall and winter offer unique opportunities to celebrate the season, boost mood, and stay active. With thoughtful planning, activities can be tailored to seniors’ interests, mobility levels, and cognitive abilities, allowing them to enjoy everything these seasons have to offer. Here are some ideas for meaningful activities that family members, caregivers, and senior living staff can organize to make the most of the fall and winter months.
Arts & Crafts
Creative projects can be a wonderful outlet for seniors, especially as cooler days limit outdoor activities. Here are a few seasonal ideas:
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Leaf Art: Collect colorful fall leaves and use them for craft projects. Seniors can press leaves into photo albums, make leaf collages, or use them as stencils to create autumn-themed paintings.
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Pumpkin Painting: Instead of carving pumpkins, which may be challenging for some seniors, opt for pumpkin painting. It’s safer, easier, and allows for more creative expression.
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Pinecone Decorations: Gather pinecones and use them to create holiday or fall decorations. Pinecones can be painted or adorned with glitter and ribbon to make ornaments or table centerpieces.
Many seniors enjoy making homemade gifts, which can be meaningful for family and friends:
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Handmade Ornaments: Seniors can craft ornaments using felt, ribbon, and other materials. These can be given as gifts or used to decorate their own space.
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Custom Photo Frames: Create photo frames with seasonal decorations. Seniors can add family photos to these frames and give them as personalized gifts.
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Handwritten Cards: Gather supplies for seniors to make handmade cards with personal notes. Writing cards for family, friends, or even fellow residents can foster connection and brighten others' holidays.
These crafts not only encourage creativity but also foster a sense of seasonal spirit and personal accomplishment.
Bake Seasonal Treats
The scents of baking can evoke fond memories for many seniors. Baking together is a great way to celebrate the season, create delicious treats, and connect over shared experiences:
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Pumpkin and Apple Desserts: Classics like pumpkin pie, apple crisp, or spiced muffins are relatively easy to make and fill the home with comforting aromas.
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Decorating Sugar Cookies: For a fun winter project, bake sugar cookies and let seniors decorate them with icing and sprinkles. They can keep the cookies as a treat or give them as gifts to family and friends.
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Hot Chocolate and Cider: Warm drinks like hot chocolate or apple cider are comforting on chilly days. Set up a small bar with whipped cream, marshmallows, and spices, and allow seniors to customize their drinks.
Baking brings everyone together, and seasonal treats make the cold days a little warmer and cozier.
Bake Seasonal Treats
The scents of baking can evoke fond memories for many seniors. Baking together is a great way to celebrate the season, create delicious treats, and connect over shared experiences:
-
Pumpkin and Apple Desserts: Classics like pumpkin pie, apple crisp, or spiced muffins are relatively easy to make and fill the home with comforting aromas.
-
Decorating Sugar Cookies: For a fun winter project, bake sugar cookies and let seniors decorate them with icing and sprinkles. They can keep the cookies as a treat or give them as gifts to family and friends.
-
Hot Chocolate and Cider: Warm drinks like hot chocolate or apple cider are comforting on chilly days. Set up a small bar with whipped cream, marshmallows, and spices, and allow seniors to customize their drinks.
Baking brings everyone together, and seasonal treats make the cold days a little warmer and cozier.
Outdoor Walks & Scenic Drives
If the weather is cooperative, a short outdoor activity can help seniors enjoy the beauty of nature:
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Fall Foliage Walks: For those who are mobile, a walk to observe the fall colors can be refreshing and uplifting. Many seniors enjoy the sensory experience of seeing bright leaves and feeling the crisp air.
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Scenic Drives: If walking is a challenge, consider a scenic drive. A leisurely drive through a park or along scenic roads allows seniors to appreciate the fall colors or winter scenery from the comfort of a car. Be sure to watch for ice and snow patches as the months get colder.
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Holiday Light Tours: In winter, take seniors on a tour to see holiday lights. Many communities decorate neighborhoods, parks, and city centers, creating a magical nighttime experience.
These outdoor activities provide fresh air, exercise, and a chance to connect with nature and the season.
Indoor Gardening
For seniors who love plants, indoor gardening can bring a bit of the outdoors inside, even during the colder months. Here are some easy ways to enjoy gardening indoors:
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Herb Planting: Indoor herbs like basil, mint, or rosemary are easy to grow, and they provide a fresh, pleasant scent. Herbs are also useful for cooking, and seniors may enjoy using them in their seasonal recipes.
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Succulent Arrangements: Succulents are low-maintenance and add a touch of greenery to any space. Organize a mini planting session where seniors can arrange different succulents in small pots.
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Bulb Forcing: Plant bulbs like amaryllis or paperwhites in a pot, and they will bloom indoors during the winter. These flowers bring bright colors and a touch of springtime to the colder months.
Indoor gardening can be a calming, fulfilling activity and has been shown to boost mood and provide a sense of purpose.
Indoor Gardening
For seniors who love plants, indoor gardening can bring a bit of the outdoors inside, even during the colder months. Here are some easy ways to enjoy gardening indoors:
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Herb Planting: Indoor herbs like basil, mint, or rosemary are easy to grow, and they provide a fresh, pleasant scent. Herbs are also useful for cooking, and seniors may enjoy using them in their seasonal recipes.
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Succulent Arrangements: Succulents are low-maintenance and add a touch of greenery to any space. Organize a mini planting session where seniors can arrange different succulents in small pots.
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Bulb Forcing: Plant bulbs like amaryllis or paperwhites in a pot, and they will bloom indoors during the winter. These flowers bring bright colors and a touch of springtime to the colder months.
Indoor gardening can be a calming, fulfilling activity and has been shown to boost mood and provide a sense of purpose.
Seasonal Storytelling & Reminiscence Memories
The fall and winter seasons often bring a sense of nostalgia, making it a perfect time for storytelling and reminiscence:
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Memory Sharing Circles: Host a small group session where seniors can share stories from their past holiday seasons or favorite fall memories. This can be a wonderful bonding activity, especially for seniors in assisted living or nursing homes.
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Holiday Memory Books: Create a scrapbook or memory book where seniors can place photos, write down stories, or add holiday cards and mementos. This book can be revisited year after year.
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Recording Family Recipes: Many families have special recipes passed down through generations. Take time to document family recipes, and perhaps cook some of these dishes together, letting seniors share the stories behind the recipes.
Reminiscing can boost seniors’ sense of connection and provide a feeling of continuity and celebration of family history.
Winter-Themed Games & Puzzles
Games are an excellent way to keep the mind active and promote social interaction:
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Seasonal Bingo: Create a fall- or winter-themed bingo card with images or words like “pumpkin pie,” “snowman,” or “holiday lights.” Seniors can play for small prizes or treats.
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Jigsaw Puzzles: Choose puzzles with seasonal images, such as winter scenes, autumn landscapes, or holiday celebrations. Working on puzzles together is relaxing and promotes concentration and focus.
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Trivia Games: Host a trivia game with questions about fall and winter holidays, famous movies, or traditions. Trivia games stimulate memory and offer a fun way to share knowledge.
Games and puzzles help keep seniors mentally active while also promoting social interaction, creating an enjoyable shared experience.
Winter-Themed Games & Puzzles
Games are an excellent way to keep the mind active and promote social interaction:
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Seasonal Bingo: Create a fall- or winter-themed bingo card with images or words like “pumpkin pie,” “snowman,” or “holiday lights.” Seniors can play for small prizes or treats.
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Jigsaw Puzzles: Choose puzzles with seasonal images, such as winter scenes, autumn landscapes, or holiday celebrations. Working on puzzles together is relaxing and promotes concentration and focus.
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Trivia Games: Host a trivia game with questions about fall and winter holidays, famous movies, or traditions. Trivia games stimulate memory and offer a fun way to share knowledge.
Games and puzzles help keep seniors mentally active while also promoting social interaction, creating an enjoyable shared experience.
Movie & Music Events
Classic movies and seasonal music bring a sense of nostalgia and can be comforting during the fall and winter months:
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Holiday Movie Nights: Screen classic movies or holiday films, complete with popcorn and cozy blankets. Consider movies from different decades to spark memories among seniors.
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Music & Sing-Alongs: Music has a powerful effect on mood and memory. Organize sessions where seniors can listen to or sing along to seasonal songs, carols, or their favorite oldies.
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Karaoke or Dance Parties: For those who enjoy singing, a karaoke session with holiday songs can be entertaining. Or hold a dance party for seniors to get moving and enjoy music.
Movies and music foster relaxation, enjoyment, and socialization, offering a familiar way to celebrate the season.
With these thoughtful fall and winter activities, seniors can enjoy the seasonal changes, engage in meaningful social interactions, and create new holiday memories. By offering a comforting blend of creative, social, and nature-focused activities, caregivers and family members can help make the fall and winter months enjoyable and rewarding for seniors. Engaging in these activities promotes overall well-being, bringing warmth, comfort, and joy to the colder seasons.
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