Article Contents
Introduction
Easter is just around the corner, and it comes as an occasion to celebrate new beginnings and enjoy with family, friends, and loved ones. For many seniors, however, the holiday can be a lonely time. So whether it’s your parents, grandparents, or other elderly relatives, spending easter with them is a beautiful way to express your care for them, whether at homes, churches, or senior living facilities such as independent living, assisted living, or nursing homes. In this blog, we will discuss some great Easter activities and gift ideas for the elderly. So, read on!
What Are Some of the Easter Activities for Elderly?
There are plenty of fun Easter activities that you can do with your senior loved ones. We have come up with a few Easter activities that will bring cheer to your senior loved ones’ lives. Whatever activities you plan, consider their preferences, age, and cognitive abilities.
7 Easter Activities for the Elderly
Easter is a wonderful opportunity to engage seniors in meaningful and enjoyable activities. Here are our top 7 Easter activities for seniors:
1. Paint Easter Eggs
Painting or dyeing Easter eggs is one of the classic Easter activities for adults. You can do it with real eggs or with wooden ones. It’s an excellent activity for seniors because it’s not too strenuous, and it’s something that you can do in groups. They can use different colors and design patterns to make each egg unique.
2. Decorate the House
Easter decorations around the house are another great activity older adults can get involved in. It can be as simple as putting up a few Easter bunny decorations or going all out with balloons, flowers, and wrapped gift items. Either way, it’s a great way to get everyone in the holiday spirit!
3. Going on an Easter Egg Hunt
Another classic Easter activity, an Easter egg hunt can be fun for seniors. If your loved one is up for it, consider hiding Easter eggs around their room or yard (if they live at home) and help them search for them. Just make sure the eggs are hidden in easy-to-reach places.
4. Attend Chruch Services
Many seniors enjoy attending Easter church services. This is a great way to reflect on the meaning of Easter and spend time with friends and loved ones. If your local church is organizing an Easter service, take the family’s senior members to visit.
5. Arrange an Easter Lunch
There is hardly any better way to spend Easter than having a big lunch with all of the family. This is an excellent opportunity to catch up with everyone and enjoy some delicious food. If you cannot cook, plenty of restaurants would be happy to cater an Easter lunch for you. But be conscious of the dietary restrictions of your elderly relatives.
6. Organize a Game Night
One of the best ways to spend Easter with seniors is by organizing a game night. This can be anything from playing charades to board games to Easter egg hunts. So, get creative with Easter game ideas for the elderly and have a fun Easter night with the family!
7. Watching an Easter parade
If you’re lucky enough to live near an Easter parade, this can be a great way to enjoy the holiday. Alternatively, you could watch a parade on TV together.
What Are the Best Easter Gifts for Elderly?
For seniors, some of the gifts you can consider such as easter baskets filled with their favorite treats, a beautiful bouquet, or even a simple card with a heartfelt message. Whatever you choose, make sure it comes from the heart. Some Easter gifts ideas for the elderly are highlighted below:
1. Flowers
Sending flowers will make people feel special, no matter the occasion. But for Easter, opt for spring flowers like tulips or daffodils. You can either make a bouquet or give a single stem of their favorite flower.
2. Handmade goods
Handmade items always feel special and have a personal touch. For example, you can bake some Easter cookies, knit a scarf or make a card. Then, you can put them into a basket and decorate them with Easter eggs or ribbons. So, this year, get your DIY on and make some homemade easter gifts for elderly grandparents!
3. Easter cards
Easter cards are one of the best gifts for the elderly and a great way to show that you’re thinking of them. You can take the traditional route and get some Easter cards from the store. Or, get creative and make your own!
4. Personal care items
As people age, they often forget to care for themselves. It can be especially true if your parents or grandparents live in senior facilities or nursing homes. So, Easter is a great time to give them some personal care items. This can be anything from soaps to clothes to their medication.
Easter Gifts Basket Ideas for Elderly
You can send Easter baskets for elderly loved ones to show how much you care. But, before we enlist some Easter gifts for the elderly, let’s have a look at the things you should take into consideration:
- Be mindful of their Health: It is essential to make sure the items you include in an Easter basket for seniors are health-conscious. For example, if your loved one has diabetes, get them sugar-free candy or chocolate. If they are on a low sodium diet, look for salt-free crackers and snacks.
- Make it personal: No matter what you include in the Easter basket, make sure it is personal to the recipient. For example, if your grandma loves flowers, include a plant or some pretty flowers. If your grandpa loves tech items, get him an iTunes gift card so he can buy some new apps.
- Create Paper baskets: Paper baskets are sustainable and can be used year after year. It is also one of the best Easter crafts for adults to do together. But if you are not crafty, no worries! You can find paper baskets at most craft stores or online as well.
Gift Items to Put in An Easter Basket for a Senior
Here are some useful gift items that you can put in an Easter basket for your elderly loved one:
- comfortable clothes
- pictures of family and friends
- a special treat (age and health appropriate)
- skincare items
- light workout equipment
- Favorite book
What Are Some Easter Activities for Elderly with Dementia?
While spending Easter with seniors, you must consider their physical and mental abilities. Some may have mobility issues, and some may have dementia. But you can still do many activities together to make sure they enjoy the holidays just as much. Here are some Easter activities for the elderly with dementia:
1. Easter Egg Hunt
The Easter egg hunt is a great way to keep the minds of your elderly loved ones active and engaged. Besides, it is one of the most fun Easter games for seniors. You can make it more challenging by hiding the eggs in tricky places or make it easier by hiding them in plain sight. If they have trouble finding the eggs, give them hints and help them along the way. Finally, be sure to put a small treat inside each egg!
2. Easy DIY Projects
Engaging in some creative DIY projects can positively impact cognitive abilities. Here are some of the Easter crafts for seniors with dementia:
- Make Easter bunny ears
- Prepare colorful Easter baskets
- Make flower pots for windowsills
- Finger-paint Easter eggs
- Create an Easter egg tree
- Design a tablecloth with spring flowers
Finally, take some pictures of the finished projects to document!
3. Go Out for an Easter Bunny visit
If your senior loved one has dementia, they might not be able to understand the meaning of Easter. But they can still enjoy the company of family and friends, participate in activities, and eat Easter candy. One activity that can make them smile is an Easter Bunny visit! You can take them for an Easter Bunny hunt at your local mall or grocery store. It will allow them to get some exercise and enjoy the festive decorations.
4. Make it Sensory
Dementia can make it difficult for seniors to process information visually. So instead, incorporate other senses into your activities, such as making things more intent and brightly colored or adding Easter-themed scents.
Spending Easter in Senior Living
Not everyone has the luxury of enjoying Easter in their homes and with family. Many seniors spend Easter in senior Living due to age and health issues. However, seniors who are staying in assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, and memory care units can often benefit from some holiday cheer. Here are some of the fun Easter activities for elderly in assisted living:
1. Attend an Easter party at the local Senior Center
Most Senior Centers organize Easter parties with fun easter activities, music, and food. This is an excellent way for seniors to socialize and loosen up. You can check with your facility’s staff if they have any formal or informal Easter activities planned.
2. Prepare a meal together with fellow residents
Another great way to celebrate Easter is by preparing a meal with fellow residents. This is a great opportunity to bond and make some new friends. But make sure you take all the necessary precautions while cooking and cleaning up afterward. You can always ask the staff for help planning and preparing the meal.
3. Enjoy fun games
Organizing game nights can be great entertainment for the elderly in care homes. You can play classic games like bingo, checkers, or chess. If enough people are interested, you can even put together a small Easter egg hunt. Be sure to ask the staff if they have any game suggestions or rules that need to be followed.
4. Decorate common areas
If possible, you can offer to decorate the common areas of the senior living facility. This will get everyone in the Easter spirit and brighten up the place. The facility staff usually provide you with some decorations but feel free to bring your own. Make sure you are mindful of the safety hazards while decorating.
5. Easter bonnet parade
The Easter bonnet parade can be one of the most exciting assisted living event ideas. Have your fellow residents make their own Easter bonnets and have a parade around the facility. You can even have a prize for the best Easter bonnet!
If you live far away or are unable to visit in person, consider sending a card or making a phone call to bring them some holiday cheer!
Conclusion
Easter is a special time of year that brings family and friends together. For seniors, this can mean plenty of fun activities to enjoy. There’s something for everyone, from egg hunts to luncheons to church services. Also, spend time with your loved ones at a nursing home or senior center. Bring gift baskets, treats, and games to share, and enjoy their company. So, get creative and make this Easter one to remember for your elderly loved one!
What are your plans for Easter? Please share them with us in the comments below!
Check out similar articles for gift ideas for seniors, gift ideas for elderly mother
FAQs
How many days until Easter 2024?
Easter 2024 will be celebrated on Sunday, March 31st. Today is March 6th, 2024. Therefore, there are 25 days until Easter 2024.
