As 4th of July quickly approaches think about how the seniors in your life can engage in the holiday. Your friends and loved ones should be able to celebrate the holiday in a safe and comfortable way, even if they are not able to attend a celebration. Whether you are a professional caregiver or simply a caring relative you can make your senior friend or relative part of the fun.
Tips for including seniors this 4th of July weekend:
·Prepare some traditional food for the weekend – hot dogs, hamburgers, coleslaw, chips. Purchase festive paper goods in red, white and blue – they are everywhere right now. Finish the meal with a blueberry or apple pie. You could even consider having an “ice cream social” with some neighbors – bringing out a variety of toppings to promote an interactive experience!
·Decorate for the weekend. Have the group dress in red, white and blue, and pull out the flag. You can purchase some inexpensive table decorations, balloons and small flags for the lawn as well. Paper streamers are always fun and easy to help get into the mood.
·Put on some patriotic music (via Pandora or iTunes if you don’t own any). Yankee Doodle, God Bless America, etc.
·Find out if fireworks are being streamed on any TV stations so that you can watch them while listening to the patriotic music. If fireworks are not an option, consider putting on an old movie like Singing in the Rain or The Patriot. Click here for a list of patriotic movies.
Holidays can always be lonely times and they often are reminders to seniors of days passed and lost love ones. Pick up the phone and say hello to any seniors in your life over the weekend. It will be meaningful for them to get a nice friendly call.
Happy 4th of July from Cooperative Home Care!