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Senior woman crafting with pumpkins for halloween

11 Halloween Activities Seniors and Their Loved Ones Can Enjoy Together

The fall season is full of opportunities for memory-making with family members of all ages, and celebrating Halloween with a senior loved one is no exception. It’s time to open that costume closet, pull out your favorite fall recipes, share a spooky story, and enjoy a few festivities that are still as memorable today as they were when you were young.

If you’re looking for fun ways to celebrate Halloween with your aging loved one, start your celebration with our list of 11 activities seniors and their loved ones can enjoy together.

October is for Fall Fun!

Whether your loved one lives alone, in a senior living community, or miles away, these Halloween traditions can be shared across generations and adapted to accommodate a senior’s level of independence and unique preferences.

Utilize the entire month of October for fall fun! If you can’t see your youngest loved ones on Halloween, don’t fret. Set aside a morning, afternoon, or evening to coordinate your plans. Or plan to piggyback on an already-scheduled event, such as before or after a soccer game, church, family dinner, or other commitments. If you are fortunate to gather on Halloween night, be sure your loved one is ready for the excitement!

 

11 Halloween Activities Seniors and Their Loved Ones Can Enjoy Together

Make-Your-Own Monster Sundaes

Making your own ice cream sundae is an ideal treat any time of year, but why not create a messy monster version for your Halloween amusement? Find flavors that work well for a monster face (chocolate with peanut butter swirls, green mint chocolate chip, or a blue cookie monster variety), and add some frightening features. Peanut butter cup ears, a sugar cone hat, black licorice strings, candy eyes, candy corn spikes, dripping hot fudge, and chocolate candies, with whipped cream and spooky sprinkles all work well.

Costume Closet Foray

If your senior loved one is open to this idea, make a stop in their closet to see what unexpected items can be used, reused, or borrowed for creating costumes. Fun hats, scarves, coats, and even wigs can be the start of a creative costume that eliminates the need to purchase something new. If your loved one enjoys knitting, sewing, or crocheting, they might be willing to make a costume accessory or two, while older adults who use technology might help with online research for selecting costume attire.

Pumpkin Seed Challenge

Have a contest for the best-roasted pumpkin seed recipe and recruit family members to submit a special version of this fall favorite. After carving pumpkins and extracting the seeds, prepare seeds by rinsing and drying them on parchment paper before roasting with your favorite oil and seasoning blend. Offer your loved one the chance to judge each version and select the winning recipe.

Scary Story Read-a-Long

Head to your local library, library book sale, or bookstore to find fun Halloween stories to share with younger readers. Seniors who enjoy reading aloud can volunteer to read in a grandchild’s elementary school classroom or a neighborhood school. Reach out to a teacher you know or the school’s main office to inquire about scheduling the activity. You can also coordinate a spooky story time at your independent living or assisted living community and invite fellow residents or family members to join in.

Assemble Treat Bags

This activity works well for any age and is an accessible option for seniors with dementia, or older adults with limited mobility or dexterity. Recruit a few younger family members to help, and instead of pouring out your Halloween candy bag into a bowl this year, assemble Halloween treat bags instead! Fill small treat bags with assorted treats, small toys, or individually wrapped snacks, and attach a positive handwritten message for your trick-or-treaters.

Make a Spooky Scarecrow

Engage your senior loved one with the creation of a spooky scarecrow for your garden or front entrance. Start by securing a pair of old pants, a flannel shirt, a few old t-shirts, and a pair of shoes or boots, and start stuffing them with leaves, hay, or straw to create a classic scarecrow with a spooky twist! Many seniors may already have a few of these items in their closet that they are excited to share.

Secure an unusual hat, a burlap sack, some rustic rope, fabric ties, or ribbon, and add a few final touches before drawing or painting a face on a pumpkin to use as the head for your scarecrow. Check out this great scarecrow tutorial for some help or watch this video for a child-friendly design.

Mini Pumpkin Painting

Carving or painting pumpkins is a quintessential Halloween tradition, but for this version, skip the carving mess and consider painting smaller pumpkins instead to create a mini pumpkin patch on a loved one’s coffee table, bookshelf, porch, or entryway. Paint markers are an easy alternative to liquid paint and brushes and can be used to create a variety of jack-o-lantern faces for your pumpkin patch. A roll of twine, raffia, green ribbon curls, or rustic-looking fabric can be used to assemble vines to look like a pumpkin patch.

Fun Halloween Recipes

If your senior loved one enjoys scrolling online, enlist their help in selecting a few fun Halloween recipes that family members can make and enjoy together. Try mummy-wrapped hot dogs, a graveyard cake, or a pumpkin cheese ball. Maybe your loved one would enjoy helping to create a meal plan for the week of Halloween to relieve the stress and busyness of Halloween night. You can also try assembling “pumpkin pies,” with a make-your-own pizza station using cheddar and mozzarella cheese and black olives or other vegetables to create classic jack-o-lantern faces on a pizza pumpkin.

Dress to Impress

Dressing up in full costume can lose a bit of its appeal as we age, especially when mobility challenges interfere, but if your loved one enjoys festive attire, there are plenty of options. Look for an unexpected or impressive easy-to-wear costume accessory: an exceptional hat, a comfortable mask, a humorous jacket, shirt, or sweater, or a fanciful wig. Many costumes can also be adapted to work for older adults who use walkers, wheelchairs, or other mobility-assisted devices.

If your loved one’s physical or cognitive limitations are a concern, keep attire simple and choose an option that will make them feel comfortable and at ease. Utilizing pieces that are already in the closet, such as a suit jacket, a tie-dye shirt, an athletic set, or even a pair of pajamas, can be easily converted into a Halloween costume with just a few accessories.

Light Up the Night

For seniors who enjoy technology, task them with finding an interesting way to light up the front entrance, garden, porch, or other area for Halloween. Explore new and interesting lighting options along with the traditional jack-o-lanterns to create a spooky sight or a brilliant display. Incorporate strands of string lights, lanterns, spotlights, glow sticks, and other accessories to surprise and delight each crew of trick-or-treaters - with or without the scare factor. Seniors with memory loss might enjoy assisting with simple lighting décor for the holidays as well.

Halloween Host/Hostess with the Most/Mostess

Handing out treats on Halloween night or at any fall event is an enjoyable way to meet new neighbors, socialize with friends, and experience connection and camaraderie with others. Invite older loved ones to join in for a family event or intergenerational activity that prioritizes safety and security, such as a trunk-or-treat, a Halloween party, a fall festival, a movie night, or a church function. Many senior centers or senior living communities also host safe Halloween events for children that welcome families and friends and offer opportunities for volunteering like passing out treats, judging costumes, or assisting with set-up, clean-up, and other tasks.

 

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Looking for more activity ideas to share with your senior loved ones? Subscribe to our blog for a wealth of articles and resources that can benefit the older adult in your life - while answering your questions about senior living.

Find the connection, camaraderie, and supportive living environment you or your senior loved one is looking for at a Cardinal Bay independent living, assisted living, or memory care community in Central Texas or Oklahoma. Our relationship-centered approach to life, with a focus on supporting senior health, independence, and dignity, offers older adults and their families access to exceptional services and amenities, a renewed sense of purpose, and a vibrant, engaged community. Experience life in a Cardinal Bay community today by scheduling a tour or contacting one of our senior care experts to learn more.

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