The sights of jack o’lanterns, kids in costumes and homes decorated as haunted houses remind us that Halloween is coming soon. Senior citizens get a kick out of the festivities as much as the children do when the day approaches. In celebration of the spookiest day of the year, here are some activities that seniors can enjoy:
- Wear your favorite costume — One of the fun things about Halloween is the opportunity to dress up as a famous TV character or movie monster. These costumes can be purchased at outlet stores, which means there is no need to spend a lot of money, especially on something that is going to be worn only once a year. In addition, they can get together with their friends and have a costume party.
- Watch an old-time scary movie — Today’s horror films rely on gore and gratuitous violence to provide scares, but they don’t compare to the originals. Seniors will fall back in time as they watch these monster movies they grew up with, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man and The Mummy, and see the actors who were the legends of horror back in the day, including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr.
- Listen to a spooky story — Nothing gives a chill than listening to a tale of terror. Thanks to today’s technology, senior citizens can download audiobooks from Kindle or their local library and choose a scary story from their favorite author. It may be a good idea to stick to the classics from writers such as Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, or Edgar Allen Poe. They can also stream old-time radio stations on the Internet and hear spooky shows like Lights Out!
- Decorate pumpkins — For those who aren’t into frights and screams, seniors can put their artistic skills to good use and give pumpkins a special look. They can paint funny or scary faces on their pumpkins and use other crafts to give it a special look. They can use spare parts from a Mr. Potato Head and place the ears, nose and eyeglasses. For hair, they can utilize colored yarn and glue to give the pumpkin an almost-human look.
For the families, if they have a loved one in an assisted living facility and they are unable to visit due to time constraints or distance, they can send a Halloween card to their loved one as a way of saying “We are thinking about you.” Children can create a Halloween-themed collage with “I love you” in the middle.
McPeak’s Assisted Living provides care for your loved ones while ensuring they maintain a happy, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle, right here in Suffolk County, Long Island, near downtown Patchogue. With our affordable prices and excellent standard of care, we have the facilities to accommodate your love one’s needs and allow them to live to the fullest. For more information, please call us at (631) 475-0445 or visit our contact page.