4 St. Patrick’s Day Activities for the Elderly

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by countless people around the world, even by those without Irish roots. Age, health, and mobility shouldn’t keep your senior loved one from celebrating this popular holiday. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care in Henderson. Our professional caregivers are available around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Here are some fun activities your loved one can perform on St. Patrick’s Day alone, with a group of friends, or with family members. 

1. House/Apartment Crawl

Pub crawls are very popular on St. Patrick’s Day. However, your senior loved one may prefer a quiet and more controlled environment. Instead of having a pub crawl, you can help him or her throw an apartment or house crawl. This activity is great for seniors with friendly neighbors or friends and family members who live nearby. For this activity, everyone will need to make Irish-themed foods, including appetizers, main courses, desserts, and green beverages. Each house will serve one of the foods. The objective is for everyone to go from home to home and socialize, participate in Irish trivia, listen to music, and eat the different types of food. A house or apartment crawl could help your senior loved stay social and reduce the risk of depression and loneliness

2. St. Patrick’s Day Crafts 

Shamrock pins, pots of gold, rainbow portraits, wreaths, and lucky jute signs are some of the many crafts your senior loved one can make for the holiday. To prevent your loved one from being pinched on St. Patrick’s Day, help him or her create a green necklace to wear throughout the day. This type of creativity can boost your loved one’s self-esteem. Making these crafts can also enhance your loved one’s hand-eye coordination and motor skills. 

3. St. Patrick’s Day Pictionary 

This is a fun game that keeps the mind sharp. Your elderly loved one can invite a bunch of friends over and they can play the game, which should consist of Irish-themed clues. Write these clues down on pieces of paper that are shaped like shamrocks. Divide the group into two teams and allow the players to draw on a large piece of paper. This activity will require your loved one to think quickly and draw from his or her memory.  Some of the Irish-themed clues that should be used when playing St. Patrick’s Day Pictionary include: 

• Leprechauns
• Irish food
• Irish authors
• Fairies

4. Family-Friendly Parade

Many communities host St. Patrick’s Day parades each year that seniors can attend with their families and friends. These parades are typically filled with colorful floats and a variety of entertainment, including Irish bands and people dressed in festive clothing. The parades also include mascots that represent the holiday, such as leprechauns carrying pots of gold. There may also be people dressed up as shamrocks and rainbows. This is a fun activity that will keep your senior loved one’s mind stimulated while preventing thoughts of loneliness. These activities are intended to provide your loved one an opportunity to socialize and boost his or her cognitive health. For seniors living in Henderson, NV, hourly care can be a wonderful solution when they need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. If your loved one needs hourly or live-in care, Henderson Home Care Assistance can help. Our caregivers can assist with exercise and mobility, prepare nutritious meals, provide timely medication reminders and help with a wide array of other important daily tasks. To learn more about our senior care plans, call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (702) 527-7723.