From fresh-baked goods to holiday greeting cards, warm knitted blankets to twinkling decorations, the holiday season is full of heartwarming details that can’t help but bring people together. And togetherness is the most significant part of the holiday season—especially for seniors, says Dana Brooks, life enrichment program director for The Pines on Carmel Senior Living.
Spending time with an older adult offers them an invaluable sense of connection, she points out. Not to mention that positive social interactions—for which there are many opportunities during the holidays—have been shown to boost older adults’ well-being. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year’s, there are plenty of fun, festive activities seniors can enjoy alongside their loved ones and caregivers. Here are 16 holiday activities for seniors, no matter their mobility level or cognitive ability.
Holiday activities for seniors with cognitive challenges
Watch a movie: Turning on a classic film evokes mood-boosting memories for everyone. “For those seniors who are homebound or unable to leave their senior living facility, putting on a favorite holiday movie can be nostalgic for those with cognitive impairment,” notes Lisa Mayfield, a certified care manager at Aging Wisdom, mental health counselor and geriatric mental health specialist.
Need recommendations? Consider:
- “It’s a Wonderful Life”
- “Miracle on 34th Street”
- “A Christmas Story”
- “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”
Play a holiday tune: According to a 2022 study by Northwestern Medicine, music builds an emotional connection between seniors and their caregivers by enabling them to participate together in musical activities such as singing, dancing, and simple instrument playing. Listening to familiar songs also improved social engagement and decreased neuropsychiatric symptoms including agitation, anxiety, and depression in both seniors and caregivers. “Listening and reminiscing to music is a fun way to spend time together at the holidays, and those who are more mobile can get up and dance,” points out Barbara Campbell, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist.
Get crafty: Decorate your space for autumn by creating leaf rubbings with paper and crayons or get ready for winter by making 3D paper snowflakes that can hang from the ceiling. Crafting is a wonderful way to get the whole family involved without putting the focus solely on conversation. If seniors happen to be grandparents, they absolutely adore spending time with their grandkids, points out Mayfield. “Doing a craft together creates that engagement and bonding, but you become less dependent on conversation, if that’s becoming harder for the senior,” she notes. “This is a great way to build a connection.”
“Often families think they should spend the entire holiday together, but that can be really difficult for somebody with cognitive impairment. It’s about quality—not quantity—when it comes to the length of your visit.
— Lisa Mayfield, Certified Care Manager at Aging Wisdom
Do a puzzle: Putting together a puzzle with a loved one offers seniors a calm and soothing activity at the holidays. Long visits from family members can be overwhelming for some older adults, so having a quiet, relaxing activity like a jigsaw puzzle is ideal, suggests Mayfield. “Often families think they should spend the entire holiday together, but that can be really difficult for somebody with cognitive impairment or even older adults,” she adds. “It’s about quality—not quantity—when it comes to the length of your visit.” For jigsaw puzzles designed for seniors or those living with dementia, check out Relish, which offers specialized products and learning resources.
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