Thanksgiving is a special family holiday, especially for grandparents and other senior relatives who don’t often get to see their children and grandchildren. However, it is also a good opportunity to gather and celebrate with friends and neighbors in a senior living community.
Aside from feasting on turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, pumpkin pie, and other holiday delicacies, Thanksgiving can involve all sorts of festive and memorable activities befitting the occasion. Here are several things that the young and the young at heart can enjoy together.
7 Thanksgiving Activities for Seniors
- Help arrange or decorate the Thanksgiving table. Get involved with holiday preparations by planning the themes and colors on display. Working with family, friends, or neighbors, consider adding a wreath or some candles to the dinner table.
- Creating a gratitude tree. Serving as a centerpiece of a Thanksgiving banquet, a gratitude tree is easy to make. Start by placing a branch in a vase. Next, create a leaf template on which to write simple messages and use it to cut leaves from construction paper or white or colored paper. Write something you’re thankful for on each paper leaf and put a ribbon or spring through each leaf and hang them on the tree. You can also decorate the tree with strings, ribbons, or other art supplies.
- Participate in Thanksgiving dinner games. Add some fun to the festivities by suggesting and/or joining in such amusements as Thanksgiving bingo, charades, Pictionary, a pie eating contest, or a scavenger hunt. A popular holiday game is Roll a Turkey. It consists of a printable game card that is available online and a stack of M&Ms. Each participant rolls one dice and the number on the die dictates the color of the M&M they place on their turkey. If you roll a 6, you can place any color M&M. Whoever fills all the spots on the game card is the winner.
- Have a sing-along. A wonderful way to bond with your fellow Thanksgiving guests is to find some favorite oldies and the words at an online music library that you can listen to, sing along with, or simply reminisce.
- Carve or decorate a pumpkin. This is a fun activity to do with youngsters or grandkids. Or, you can have a pumpkin decorating competition with your
- Research your family genealogy together. Seniors know a lot about their family’s origins and can pass the information along to younger family members with entertaining stories about their ancestors. You can even find documents on many online genealogy resources.
- Host a virtual Thanksgiving gathering. If you can’t be with loved ones on the holiday, you can still enjoy Thanksgiving festivities via an online video platform. For example, ViewClix Smart Frames enables seniors with an approved visual connection to family and friends on a portable tablet or a free mobile app.
Wellness Center Activities in South and Central Florida
There are numerous programs offered throughout the entire year at a Palm Medical Centers senior wellness center. Aside from providing senior-focused primary care services with genuine kindness, the providers at Palm Medical Centers also offer a place where seniors can stay active and healthy in mind and body. Activities vary by location but often include:
- Arts and crafts
- Games, such as bingo, dominoes, and puzzles
- Dance lessons
- Exercise classes, including Zumba, Silver Sneakers, and balance improvement programs
- Chair yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation
- Monthly birthday celebrations
- Holiday and theme parties
- All sorts of healthcare educational courses
To learn more and get in on the fun, contact Palm Medical Centers today at (833) 500-PALM (7256) or you can send us a message online now. You can even request a complimentary private tour of the wellness center located nearest to you.
