Category: Activities

New Year’s Eve should be fun for everyone including seniors with Alzheimer’s. Therefore, Oshkosh Alzheimer’s caregivers should consider planning a family New Year’s Eve celebration this year with some of these exciting activities.

Host a Cooking Party-

Assign each person a country to research before the event and have them find out what people in that country eat on New Year’s Eve. Then, prepare that food and bring it to the family gathering. Before everyone digs in, have each person share what country the food is from and what people in that country believe eating that food will give them in the coming year. Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers in Oshkosh may need to help their senior loved ones prepare these dishes, which will only add to the fun.

Celebrate a Different Decade

Have each person choose a favorite decade. Then, create an outfit to match that decade. Each family member should try to create a two or three-minute routine about that decade. Perhaps they can dance to a favorite song from the decade or read a poem that was written during that time. Then, everyone has to try to guess the decade.

Play the Resolution Game

Everyone loves to make resolutions on New Year’s Eve. Have each person write down three resolutions. Two of the resolutions will be true and one will be a lie. Everyone states his or her resolutions and then everyone guesses which one is the lie.

Create a Scrapbook for the Year

Get a large calendar and write down all the events that have happened throughout the last year. Everyone can share how those events impacted him or her. Then, take a calendar for the next year and let everyone share what he or she hopes to accomplish in the coming year.

Play Name the Song

Start by finding songs of each decade of the senior’s life. Then, play snippets from those songs. Have each person try to guess the name of the song and the artist singing it. The person with the most correct guesses wins a prize.

Families can incorporate seniors with Alzheimer’s into their New Year’s Eve festivities in many different ways. Regardless of the activity or the food served, the most important thing is being together as a family. Learn more about activities that seniors with Alzheimer’s can enjoy by calling Senior Stride Home Care at 920-710-CARE (2273). Our flexible senior care in Oshkosh encourages seniors with cognitive disorders to lead active lives in order to boost emotional and physical wellbeing. Let us customize a personalized care plan for your loved one when you call.

Celebrating Thanksgiving with a senior can make the holiday even more special. While you are busy planning and preparing a festive meal, involve him or her in the holiday by helping your loved one create a crafty Thanksgiving centerpiece for the dinner table. Oshkosh, WI, elder care providers recommend the following three festive centerpieces.

Wood Burned Centerpiece Box

Find a wooden half-crate that has a low profile. Have your love done draw or stencil the word “Thanks” on the side of the crate. Then, use a wood-burning tool to etch it in place. If you both are happy with the way that it looks, then you can leave it or add a stain to change the color. Fill the inside with a piece of Styrofoam. Stick beautiful fall flowers, fall leaves, gourds and miniature pumpkins on top of the Styrofoam until it is completely covered.

Chalkboard Centerpiece

Framed chalkboards make a beautiful simple Thanksgiving centerpieces that most seniors can easily complete with help from you or an Oshkosh, WI, part-time caregiver. Start by finding two framed chalkboards. If you do not like the color of the frame, then look for wooden ones and give them a quick coat of paint. Drill some holes in the top of the frame and use some wire to connect them to form a simple easel. Write the word “Thanks” on each one. You can position these in the middle of the table. Make your centerpiece even more festive by adding miniature pumpkins or gourds in front of it.

Leaf Lanterns

Leaf lanterns make a beautiful addition to Thanksgiving tables, but they are also easy to make. Start by collecting some beautiful fall leaves. Find an old jar and measure its circumference. Cut a piece of wax paper the same height as the jar and twice its circumference. Lay the wax paper on a table so that the waxy side is facing up. Arrange the leaves on one half of the long side of the wax paper. Fold the wax paper in half and hold a hot iron on top of it for just a few seconds allowing the wax to melt. Cover the outside of the jar with the wax paper gluing it in place. You can tie raffia around the top of the jar to hide the end of the wax paper. Place a tealight candle in the jar for a beautiful centerpiece. These look especially elegant placed on top of a glass mirror.

Creating Thanksgiving centerpieces with seniors need not be time consuming or expensive. You will be building memories that last a lifetime. Even if the project does not turn out perfect, you will love the experience of spending time together. Learn more about ways to engage with your senior loved one today by calling Senior Stride Home Care of Oshkosh at 920-717-1767 today. We provide flexible Oshkosh, WI, dementia, Alzheimer’s and stroke care that enables seniors to lead active social lives while boosting overall wellbeing. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

Thanksgiving is the busiest box office day of the year, guaranteeing long lines and crowded theaters. Why endure all of that when Thanksgiving is all about family (and food)? Instead, families can spend some quality time watching heartwarming Thanksgiving flicks. These five family-friendly movies are perfect for Oshkosh, WI, at-home caregivers to bond with their senior loved ones on this family-oriented holiday.

1. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

When poor Charlie Brown gets roped into putting together a Thanksgiving dinner for his friends, it falls to Snoopy and Woodstock to make everything a success. The whole cast gathers around a hastily made up Ping-Pong table to celebrate the holiday. Despite all the mishaps, the true meaning of Thanksgiving shines through this family classic.

2. Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving

Leave it to Disney to have a wonderful, family-friendly movie for Thanksgiving! This film features Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit putting together a wonderful Thanksgiving meal together for themselves and their friends.

3. The Muppets

This 2011 film starts off with three Muppet fans finding out the Muppet Theater is in danger of being torn down. The three friends try to save the theater by bringing the Muppets back together for one last show.

4. Free Birds

Exactly what happens after a Thanksgiving turkey is pardoned? The main character in this 2013 animated film ponders just that when he gets roped into a plot to go back in time and prevent turkey from ever becoming part of the Thanksgiving menu.

5. Miracle on 34th Street

Although this film focuses on Christmas, it opens with the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bridging the gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the story follows a little girl and what she truly wants for Christmas. Both the 1947 and 1994 editions are gorgeous films that are perfect for seniors to watch with their families and Oshkosh, WI, live-in caregivers.

Encourage your loved one to enjoy Thanksgiving with help from Senior Stride Home Care of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We provide reliable elder care Oshkosh, WI, seniors need to lead active lives in the comfort of home. Contact 920-717-1767 today to learn more about ways you can help your senior loved one enjoy his or her golden years.

Halloween fun isn’t just for youngsters anymore. Seniors often enjoy getting in on the festivities. Plan a seasonal party and include games that all can play. Live-in Oshkosh caregivers recommend the following Halloween-themed games for seniors and their families.

Candy Count

Put candy corn or similar candy in a jar and let guests guess the number of pieces. The person who comes closest to the actual count wins a prize. Another option involves guessing the weight of a pumpkin, though it’s not recommended for seniors with physical disabilities.

Crime Scene Outlines

This game is ideal for seniors who require in-home care in Oshkosh. Round up some white butcher paper, markers and tape. Create individual “chalk” outlines of the partygoers and hang the masterpieces around the dining or living room area. Images or items personalizing each outline might also aid in the identification process. Have guests guess who the identity of the victims are. Participants with the most right answers win.

Pumpkin Bocce

This game can be played both indoors and out. The activity is also a wonderful way of encouraging upper body exercise and range of motion. Acquire one large pumpkin and several miniature gourds. Position the large pumpkin up to six feet away from a designated starting line. Allow each player to roll his or her smaller pumpkin toward the larger target. The individual that comes the closest wins.

Halloween A to Z

Give each participant a piece of paper and a pencil. When the game leader says, “go” each player must write as many Halloween-related words he or she can think of using as many of the letters of the alphabet as possible. Stop the game after 10 minutes and tally the results to determine the winner.

Halloween Trivia

Tell your guests the plot line of a famous horror movie. Keep in mind that the movie must be relevant to the senior generation. Using only hints from the plot, let the guests guess the name of the movie. Keep score of the correct answers.

Halloween is great for kids, but seniors can have some fun with it, too. For more tips on giving your loved one a Halloween to remember, contact Senior Stride Home Care at 920-710-CARE (2273) today. Not only do we provide comprehensive stroke, dementia and Alzheimer’s in-home care in Oshkosh, but we also help seniors boost longevity and quality of life. Call today to schedule a free in-home consultation with a friendly Care Manager.