PARTY IDEAS FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND WITH SENIOR LOVED ONES

Summer is slipping away and unfortunately many Seniors have gone months without social contact. Labor Day is Summer’s “last hurrah,” so make the most of it! You can still have fun with masks and social distancing.

Here are some creative ways to enjoy Labor Day weekend (or any weekend) at home with your Senior loved ones:

1. Backyard barbecue: buy a kiddie pool, fill with water, and set up a lawn chair outside in the shade for your Senior so they can dip their toes in the water and keep cool, while you put the hot dogs on the grill. The grandkids can splash away in the real pool, or set up a sprinkler in the grass for them to run through.
2. Travel the globe through cuisine: Your Mom always wanted to go to Greece, your Dad always wanted to visit Germany, take them there on Labor Day. Google native recipes to prepare and pair the food with festive decorations from the party store and printed pictures of famous places and flags from that culture.
3. Outdoor explorer: Many beaches, parks, and outdoor attractions are open again, like Lion Country Safari. Plan ahead and make a picnic, then get an automobile caravan headed that way. Be sure not to expose your Senior to too much heat or sunshine.
4. Green thumb: make a red, white, and blue garden in a pot that your loved one can then tend to and save as a nice remembrance.
5. Cook in the kitchen: bake some cupcakes or large sugar cookies and have a contest to see who decorates them the best. Get colored sprinkles, fancy colored icing, chocolates chips, nuts, flag toothpicks, etc., and have a prize for the best one!
6. Make your own Sundae on Sunday: You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. Nothing beats the hot weather like cold ice cream and plenty of your favorite toppings. Let the family get a scoop of chocolate and vanilla and then go crazy with whipped cream, fudge sauce, banana slices, sprinkles or chocolate chips, nuts and more.
7. Prepare your own pizza: Same idea as make your own sundae, only build a personal pizza to your liking with pepperoni, mushrooms, meatballs, olives, veggies, etc. Fun for young and old.
8. Play games in the parlor: get some small easy puzzles and set up family teams of 2, then see who can finish putting their puzzle together first. Have a reward ready for the winners.
9. Make some frozen “mock”-tails: a fizzy punch is always fun, more so with sherbet floating on top.Or get some little cocktail umbrellas and make “Virgin Marys,” cucumber tonics without the gin, frozen Margaritas without the tequila etc., you get the idea.
10. Visit a zoo or museum on a virtual tour: Many world famous museum collections can be accessed here: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours.

The youngsters may enjoy visiting the virtual zoo with Grandma or Grandpa. Try these links:

• Georgia Aquarium’s baby beluga, sea lions, penguins and more: https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/
• San Diego Zoo’s koalas, elephants, pandas, giraffes and more: https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos

Contact Us: Never before has family time meant more, and the holidays are the right time to strengthen relationships. A few hours together is good medicine for the soul and will give you a chance to see how your loved ones are getting along. If they seem confused, haven’t taken their meds, have lost weight, gotten bruised from falls, didn’t shower or shave, well then that might be a red flag that they need some help at home or a companion to check up on them a few days a week.  If you have questions, we offer a complimentary consultation to address your concerns. Call 561-328-7611 for a no obligation appointment.

 Till Next Time!

Irv Seldin, JD, MA

President and Owner, Visiting Angels of the Palm Beaches

This article is not intended as medical, legal, or financial advice.