Holiday Fun for the Old and the Young

If you’re a caregiver living with elderly relatives in your “bubble,” you probably have plenty of time to spend at home with your loved ones. Break up hectic work weeks with these seasonal family activities.

1. Sort through keepsakes. Do you have keepsake boxes in your garage or attic that haven’t been opened in years? Dust off old yearbooks and family photos to reminisce together. Laugh about old-fashioned trends, and share stories about your childhood.
2. Bake a tradition. Does your family have a famous fruit cake or buttery shortbread recipe passed down over the years? A warm, inviting kitchen full of holiday treats is a great way to bring generations together. If your aging loved one has the recipe memorized, encourage grandkids to write it down for future use or to make a personalized family cookbook.
3. Drive through a lights display. Many public parks and neighborhoods go all-out when it comes to holiday lights. Look online or in the paper for lights displays near you and bundle up the family for a leisurely drive through a winter wonderland. Don’t forget to tune the radio to your favorite festive station!Expert tip: “At Traditions at Reagan Park, we take residents on bus outings to look at holiday lights every year,” says Martinez. It’s a fun experience for families, too.
4. Teach and learn. Some skills, like knitting, crochet, and needlepoint, used to be nearly universal. Now, they’re less commonplace. Younger generations can ask aging parents or grandparents to teach them, making the most of a long winter inside. Yarn crafts help seniors maintain dexterity and focus as well.
5. Put your green thumbs to work. Natural settings decrease stress and foster well-being. But, in the winter, potted plants and flower arrangements can bring just as much happiness. Indoor gardening is beneficial to seniors, so consider purchasing fresh herb plants for this year’s holiday feasts or ordering bulk flowers to arrange for unique and creative holiday centerpieces.
6. Encourage friendly competition. Holiday games for seniors — like puzzles, trivia, and game show-style quizzes — inspire competition and keep the mind sharp. Look up trivia questions about the 1950s and 60s, or consider apps like Kahoot and Drawful, which let you customize games and quizzes with your own family facts and traditions. If you prefer something more traditional, Bingo is an exciting go-to.Expert tip: Martinez suggests picking holiday-themed puzzles and games for a fun and festive environment. Consider playing seasonal trivia or fill-in-the-lyrics with holiday songs. Try stopping a holiday song in the middle of the chorus to see who can finish the lyrics the fastest!