Everyone has their own definition of when “Fall” starts. Some will say it starts when school starts or when the leaves start to fall on a regular basis. Others will say it ‘starts’ on September 1st, considering that’s when Starbucks starts offering Pumpkin Spice Lattes and big chain stores remove Back-to-School displays and put up Halloween displays. No matter where you are on the spectrum, the officially recognized first day of Fall for 2017 is September 22.
That’s right, we made it! It’s officially officially Fall!
We all have our favorite seasons, and we must admit that while Summer is our personal favorite season, Fall is a close second. What is your favorite season?
According to a recent survey, it is highly likely that Fall is. In fact, the survey found that America’s favorite season is Fall, with 29% of respondents claiming that Fall is their favorite season compared to only 7% claiming Winter is their favorite season. When you consider the fact that the weather is cooler but not cold and still consistently dry, it really is no surprise that it is a favorite season and perhaps even the best season for outdoor activities.
So, while you pack away the tank tops and flip flops of Summer, and bring out the sweaters and closed toed shoes, we thought we would share our 10 favorite Fall activities to do with our elderly loved ones.
Decorate Your Loved One’s Living Space with Them
Decorating your elderly loved one’s house or living space with them in a fun Fall theme is a great way to make fun memories and festively liven up their living space. This is especially fun for loved ones who have trouble traveling outside of their living space but still want to be festive.
Work on a Jigsaw Puzzle
As we get later into the season, the chances of rain will increase. Working on a jigsaw puzzle is a great rainy day activity that also helps the cognitive function of your loved one.
Go for a Walk
Very few things beat a walk on a nice Fall day. The variety of colors, crispness in the air and the falling leaves make for an unforgettable time.
Visit the Pumpkin Patch
This is an absolute must. Grab some hot cider and go pick your favorite pumpkin to carve at a local farm. If you’re lucky they may even offer hayrides making the pumpkin patch a 3 for 1: Pumpkin, Hay ride, cider!
Watch a Football Game
If you love sports, then you already know that Fall is synonymous with Football season and Football season is synonymous with Tailgating Season! Many high schools play under the lights on Friday, or you could go watch a Semi-Pro or even Pro NFL game with your elderly loved one.
Go Leaf Hunting
With all the colors of the falling leaves, Fall is a great time to take your loved one leaf hunting. The bounty from this hunting expedition can be used to make cool crafts.
Do Some Crafts
Another great rainy day activity is to do some crafts. You could press leaves, make a centerpiece, paint or draw a Fall landscape and even more. Visit our Pinterest page for some fun ideas.
Bake Some Fall Food
Fall food is some of the best. You’ve got Apple and Pumpkin pie, candy apples, butternut squash soup, fresh priced cider, pumpkin bread, chili and more. Spending time cooking it with your loved one will also make some great memories.
Watch a Movie
With Halloween around the corner, it is the perfect time to watch your loved one’s favorite scary movie. If they aren’t into horror films, there are a lot of movies outside of that genre as well.
Go to a Bon Fire
Crisp nights are perfect for a nice bon fire and stories around the fire. You never know what you might learn from your loved one during a chat around the fire.
Whatever activity you decide to do with your elderly loved one, Wiser Home Care Services can help. If you care for a loved one and would like help developing a care plan of any kind please feel free to contact us. We can help your family establish a care plan to personally accommodate your loved one’s needs.