To summarize:
Crown Cobe Senior Living is in the perfect location along the Corona del Mar coast to offer a relaxing afternoon with your family members. Have you considered gathering a group of friends or family members to enjoy some Halloween activities for adults, either within or outside our community?
Engaging with your loved one in this way may have a more profound effect than you expect, according to the National Institutes of Health, which states that such social activity can enhance the mental well-being of those who might otherwise experience loneliness.
Below, discover ideas for:
So, read on to discover how to offer something special to the loved one you care for in our community.
Start by creating a simple set of two or three activities that people can engage with at key positions around the social area. These might be on small coffee tables or other areas where you can put seats. Then, ensure that people can easily move to and from these locations.
Such activities might include:
Keep any instructions on stations clear and in large print so that seniors will easily know what to do.
Ensure that the event promotes health and wellness by avoiding foods like junk food and alcohol. Mocktails are very popular, and can give a range of flavors to any beverages on offer.
Then, organize the day to include a clear schedule.
Welcome everyone: Call ahead to ensure everyone arrives on time, and then offer a warm welcome to everyone at the event.
Socializing: Inform people about the activities available. If you plan to have a sing-along, ensure everyone knows the time so that nobody is surprised by the sudden shared activity.
Toast to end: At the end, thank everyone for being there and ask people to take any trash with them if they can. Make cleanup easier for you and your loved ones, leaving behind keepsakes for them to enjoy in the long term.
The Population Reference Bureau is clear that Americans with stronger social connections are more likely to be healthier and live longer lives than those with weaker connections. Thus, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to reinforce this social interaction and ensure someone continues to cherish the community or family that they are a part of.
However, it is true that for some people, the addition of Halloween themes to events might cause stress.
To combat this, the Alzheimer's Federation of America recommends:
If you need any further advice, we recommend taking a cue from some of the activities and events we organize in our community. If you need any guidance on what our community is like, to help give your loved one an event they will cherish, you can always ask.
Aim for the early evening, or even the afternoon, if you want to encourage someone in the senior living community to be involved. Such a time reduces the likelihood that your loved one is too tired to engage. It will also be between major meals, especially if they enjoy the nutritious experience of our Elevate dining experience.
Around Halloween, you might expect Trick-or-Treaters to visit houses in your area. In our senior living community, that is not likely to happen, and our residents are unlikely to knock on your loved one's apartment in costume.
Instead, at a party, ways that you could recreate this feeling among senior adults without it feeling childish or patronizing are to:
Yes, of course! When people arrive at a party, it will be just like any other, except themed.
However, if you are attending a party that is likely to have those in Memory Care or Assisted Living, consider making the costumes a little less extreme. Avoid using masks to ensure people can recognize you, and only provide seniors with costumes that are comfortable and easy to move in.
Also, try to coordinate group themes, including color palettes and specific costumes. You can then all appear as different members of a known group for a bit of fun.
Start with a single idea and put it on the calendar with the idea of enjoying the time with your loved one instead of throwing a "big party". Then, every time you add something to your plan, make sure it's easy and won't overwhelm those in attendance.
If you're ready to plan Halloween activities for adults that your loved one in Crown Cove will enjoy, get in touch with our staff to ensure that it can work in their apartment, or if we can make any other suggestions. Alternatively, if you would like to learn more about what it's like to live in our community, where we offer amenities like our ocean view observation deck, please get in touch and ask about scheduling a tour.