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 Years, 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 fellow 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, a fellow 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.
Holiday activities for seniors with limited mobility
Decorate cookies
Who doesn’t love a homemade cookie fresh from the oven? Furthermore, decorating cookies can be done while stationary at a kitchen counter or table, so seniors with limited mobility can join in on the fun. Cookie cutters come in all shapes and sizes, so no matter what holiday you’re celebrating, there’s bound to be one that fits the theme. You can decorate cookies with red, black and green icing for Kwanzaa or make beautiful blue and gold menorahs for Hanukkah.
Send out greeting cards
Encourage an older adult to let someone special know they’re thinking of them at the holidays, advises Campbell. She suggests sending out greeting cards to loved ones to spread holiday cheer.
Caregivers can set up a mailing station with envelopes, stamps, an address book and holiday cards so that all of the materials are in one place for seniors who are less mobile. You can make your own cards or purchase pre-made ones from the store.
Look at holiday lights
Once a year, homeowners go all out and decorate their lawns and houses with holiday flair.
“When my grandmother wasn’t able to drive anymore, I would drive her around town at night,” recalls Jason Tansey of Chesapeake, Virginia. “We would look at all of the houses lit up in holiday lights and check out the festive holiday decorations. It was one of our favorite traditions.”
Have a parade
Whether you’re watching the iconic Thanksgiving Day parade on TV together or taking part in one yourself, Brooks says a parade is a fun way to celebrate with seniors. “Every year, we host a Thanksgiving parade, where we decorate walkers, wheelchairs and even dress up,” she says. “Some seniors choose to watch, and others will participate in the parade.”
“Holiday trivia is another fun group activity for seniors. The more they’re engaged mentally, the less cognitive decline they have.”
— Dana Brooks, Life Enrichment Program Director, the Pines on Carmel Senior Living
Holiday activities for seniors longing for companionship
Organize a game night
“People of all ages love Bingo,” points out Campbell who suggests changing the game for the season or holiday you’re celebrating.
For example, during Hanukkah, Brooks says the seniors at her senior living center love to play a game of dreidel or fill out a crossword together. “Holiday trivia is another fun group activity for seniors,” she adds. “The more they’re engaged mentally, the less cognitive decline they have.”
Exchange holiday gifts
‘Tis the season for giving and receiving. Brooks suggests a holiday gift exchange as a fun way to spread holiday cheer among your older adult’s peer group.
One option is to do a “white elephant” gift exchange where everyone comes with a wrapped present and puts it in the center of a table. Then, each person picks a number out of a hat. Going in order, the first person will open a gift and keep it. The next person will open a different gift and decide whether they want to keep that gift or exchange it with the previous person. The game continues until there are no gifts left on the table. Remember, the present doesn’t have to be expensive; it’s the thought that counts.
Give back to the community
Seniors spent the majority of their lives providing for others — as parents, co-workers, neighbors and friends. “Doing something for others gives seniors a sense of purpose,” points out Brooks. (And by the way, research published in the journal Preventative Medicine notes that a higher sense of purpose is associated with lower risk of chronic conditions and premature mortality.)
She suggests partnering with your older loved one to collect toys for children in need, put together care kits for the homeless, host a canned food drive or mail holiday cards to active military troops.
Attend a local performance
Get a group of friends or family members together to see a holiday show. Local high school choirs, drama clubs or bands often put on performances for the community. Check out a local theater group or a special church service with loved ones.
Group holiday activities for seniors
Help decorate
Not everyone feels as jolly around the holidays. However, adorning an older adult’s home with decorative trimmings — whether those are boughs of holly or garlands featuring menorahs and dreidels — may go a long way in elevating their mood.
“My family made time every year to help my grandmother decorate her apartment for the holidays,” recalls Tansey. “By the time we were finished, you could see how much more excited she was to celebrate.”
Brooks has found the same to be true for seniors in her life, as well. “After Thanksgiving, we invite families to come help their seniors decorate Christmas trees all around our center,” she notes. “The seniors are ecstatic when their families come to visit during the holiday. Our senior center looks like a winter wonderland.”
Bake a family recipe
From pumpkin pie to potato latkes, everyone has a favorite family recipe that reminds them of years past. “Year after year, my mom would make creamed onions for Thanksgiving and a tray of lasagna for New Year’s Day,” remembers Tansey. “It’s traditions like those that we all look forward to and really make it feel like the holidays.”
Include seniors in the process, suggests Mayfield. “Whether they help with baking the pies or setting the table, keeping seniors involved on the holiday helps them feel needed and valued.”
“My family made time every year to help my grandmother decorate her apartment for the holidays. By the time we were finished, you could see how much more excited she was to celebrate.”
—Jason Tansey of Chesapeake, Virginia
Share special photos
Flip through an old photo album and reminisce about past holidays spent together. “That’s long-term memory, so that’s usually very easy for seniors to access,” explains Mayfield. “If it seems like they are having trouble remembering, you can say, ‘Do you remember this Christmas when we did x, y and z?’ or give them clues to help them remember.”
Be sure to take new family pictures at holiday gatherings, as well. Sometimes the occasion can slip by so quickly that we forget to grab a snapshot of family and friends.
Have a “Noon” Year’s Eve party
Staying up until midnight to ring in the new year can be a challenge for anyone, no matter how old they are. Campbell suggests hosting a “Noon” Year’s Eve party mid-day instead as a way to be mindful of seniors who need adequate sleep. All you need is some party hats, confetti and a champagne toast to feel festive.
“Take turns sharing about your favorite memory of [the year] or search the internet for videos on how other countries are celebrating the new year,” suggests Campbell. For example, Sydney, Australia — which is 14-17 hours ahead of U.S. time zones — has a spectacular firework show at the Sydney Harbour Bridge every year.
How to help a senior loved one have a festive season
Keep in mind that although you may want the older adult in your life to have a happy, joyful season, the holidays can be a bit stressful and even emotional for some.
As Campbell points out, “Seniors can be overstimulated and overwhelmed with the amount of visitors and holiday gatherings.” That said, you’ll do well to keep an eye out for signs of irritability — and, according to Campbell, keep structure and routine in a senior’s day, which will help alleviate any stress and make for a more enjoyable experience overall.
