Although most Americans are unaware of its significance, National Senior Citizen Day is a national holiday intended to honor and show appreciation for the older adults in our lives. This holiday commemorates the more than 54 million seniors living in the United States. If you’d like to show that special senior in your life how much you respect and cherish them, here are some fun ways to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day while giving back to those who sacrificed for you.
Spend the Day with Them
Sadly, for millions of elderly Americans, the television is their primary source of companionship each day. But too much TV viewing combined with inactivity can be detrimental to a senior’s physical, emotional, and mental health.
Keep your loved ones active and entertained by spending Senior Citizens Day with them, and then continue that trend throughout the year. Plan a surprise visit, take them out for a walk at the park, or stop by the local farmer’s market to hand select nutritious fruits and veggies.
Start a Family History Project
Your elderly loved ones probably have knowledge about your family’s past. What better way to learn more about yourself than by starting a family history project with them? Interviewing older relatives allows you to hear about their memories and experiences while spending quality time together.
Ask them to share stories you might not know about their parents and grandparents. Taking a walk down “memory lane” while looking at old photos is a great way for seniors with mild cognitive impairment to keep their minds sharp.
Run Errands Together
If your senior can no longer drive for health reasons, volunteer to help them run errands such as grocery shopping or picking up medications at the pharmacy. In addition to being safer for everyone, spending time in the car together will give you both the opportunity to discuss other important topics.
Check Out Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is another proven way for formerly isolated seniors to get much-needed social interaction while feeling good about themselves by serving others. Spend National Senior Citizens Day by checking out volunteer opportunities for seniors in the local community with your loved ones.
Hospitals, cancer centers, food pantries, and similar organizations are always looking to add retirees to their volunteer teams. If your loved one has trouble leaving the house, many charities also need volunteers working from home to make phone calls on their behalf.
Host a Party or Luncheon
Show your loved ones how much you care by throwing a party or luncheon that’s all about them. Hosting a get-together in their honor will do wonders for your senior self-esteem by letting them know how much they are loved, valued, and respected.
Better yet, surprise them by inviting old childhood friends that they haven’t seen in years. Make it even more special by serving their favorite foods, playing their favorite music, or baking them their favorite cake.
Say “I Love You”
No matter how you celebrate with aging loved ones on Senior Citizens Day, be sure to let them know how you truly feel through your speech and other actions. If you can’t be with them in person, be sure to send them a card and gift commemorating the positive impact that they’ve had on your life, along with the lives of other family members.
Block off some time that day to speak with them on the phone. If your senior is tech-savvy, connect with them on Facetime or Zoom so they can visually interact with their grandchildren as you all spend precious moments together creating new memories that will last a lifetime!
Proudly Serving Seniors and Families in Orange County California
Providing aging loved ones with the care and attention they deserve isn’t always easy. At Colonial Home Care Services, we are a fully licensed and insured home care provider with highly trained professionals who are experts at delivering the nurturing that your loved one deserves. While serving as an extended family in your senior’s home, our compassionate caregivers can perform duties like light housekeeping, personal care, dementia care, companionship care, medication reminders, and even live-in and 24-hour care.
Our agency’s focus is on maintaining your loved one’s quality of life, along with their dignity, self-esteem, and independence. For your added convenience, all our in-home services can be individually personalized into an affordable package when and where you need them! Please visit us online now to learn more about us or schedule a FREE initial consultation for a senior in Orange, CA.
