Halloween Fun for Seniors

It wouldn’t be Halloween without a few tricks and treats this year! We know that the responsibility of caring for elderly home care clients at the start of the holiday season can cause enough stress to make personal care attendants go a bit batty.

We want our personal care assistants and home caregivers you can still enjoy Halloween—regardless of age! In fact, there are plenty of ways to have fun safely while receiving home care.

Spooktacular Halloween Games for Seniors

Below are a few fun Halloween party games and activities for you to keep in mind when celebrating the season with home care patients and loved ones:

Halloween Movie Marathon

This is a must for any scary movie lover during the fall. Break out the old classics from their time and a few newer movies—then pop some popcorn and have a binge-fest!

Pumpkin Decorating

Maybe the senior in your life isn’t one who enjoys a good scare. Try something creative and relaxing, yet fall-themed like decorating pumpkins. Carving isn’t necessary if it's too physically difficult—just break out some colorful paints and create some wacky and festive decorations.

Halloween Board Games

Everyone enjoys a fun board game—and with classics like Clue or Mystery Mansion, it’s easy to have a game night with a fun Halloween twist! Senior caregivers can look up Halloween-themed Pictionary or Charades topics for even more game night options.

Have a Fall Food Picnic

Invite family, friends, and neighbors out to a park and bring some fall food classics like caramel apples, pumpkin pie, and apple cider to enjoy in the crisp fall weather.

Scary Stories

Nothing says Halloween like telling ghost stories. Stoke a fire or light a few candles, and share some spooky stories together. If you don’t have any of your own, look up some from the Internet and print them off, then trade off reading with friends and family.

Go Trick or Treating

No one is ever too old to meet the neighbors and take home a huge bowl of candy. Be sure to share out the sweet treats in the days to come, however, to avoid your senior’s digestion being upset by a sugar overload.

Host Trick or Treaters

Those who are homebound can still enjoy Halloween from the front porch! Dress up a bit and give out some treats to all the neighborhood ghouls and goblins.

When trick or treating, there are a few safety rules to keep in mind to make sure all goes smoothly.

Tricks to Be Aware Of

• Choose the right costume. Avoid wearing masks, as they can obstruct vision and often grow annoying so they are tossed aside quickly. Instead, go for more comfortable ways of dressing up, like hats, face paint, or simple costumes.
• Don’t forget to stay on top of the weather. When sitting on the porch, make sure you wrap up warm to avoid catching a chill. For seniors, the common cold can turn into a nasty chest infection rapidly. Luckily, cloaks and shawls can make the ideal accessory for your very own witch or wizard. 
• Plan your route. If you are venturing out, plan a route in advance when trick or treating, so you can make sure you stick to an area that you and your client are both familiar with to avoid getting lost.
• Stay visible. When planning the route, try to stay in well-lit areas. To stay visible, avoid all black costumes and arm your entire group with flashlights or glow sticks so no one gets lost away from the group.

For more ideas on how to make the most of your home care experience, feel free to call Best Care at (651) 330-2550 or email us at info@bestcaremn.com. If you are interested in seeing all the home care services we provide, you can also just scroll through our website!