Halloween can be a tricky time of year for anyone who isn’t a child, but especially for seniors. You aren’t young enough to go door to door, but you’re too mature for many activities young adults participate in. Luckily, there are ample activities seniors can try to enjoy during the festive time of year.
Although it might be tempting to stay inside and lock the door, socialization is valuable and can reduce depression, loneliness, and stress in older adults. Read on to learn about some of our most exciting Halloween activities any senior adult will adore.
Host a Halloween Party With Friends
Whether you live in a community or have a group of friends who can come to you, it’s possible to host a senior-oriented Halloween party. You can have a blast and decorate your home, creating games and investing in fall-themed prizes to get everyone in the mood.
At a Halloween party, you can:
- Socialize
- Hand out candy
- Paint
- Bake
There’s a multitude of opportunities. Also, you can tailor your Halloween party based on what you and your friends can do. Older adults with high energy can live it up, while gentler souls can get cozy with comfortable candles and delicious pastries.
Enjoy a Halloween Bake-Off
There’s no better activity than a good Halloween bake-off, which is even better with a group of seniors with decades of experience. You can pick a theme and have people make their creations there or bake them ahead of time and bring them in for a taste test.
Bakery items can include the following:
- Cookies
- Cupcakes
- Pies
The items can be fall-themed or anything else. You don’t have to stop with baked goods, you can also create delicious soups and memorable sandwiches. The sky’s the limit. Don’t forget to find a solid prize for the winners to take home after the tasting.
Related: 10 Recipes for Grandkids
Dress Up to Hand Out Candy
One of the most exciting parts of Halloween is the trick or treating, and you can participate on the other side. Find your fun Halloween costume and get the best candy in your neighborhood or building to ensure you get plenty of visitors with exciting costumes.
There are endless costume choices, even as a senior. Since you don’t have to walk around and knock on doors, you can go as extravagant as you want. Pick something traditional like a mummy, or dress up like your favorite actor. Age doesn’t matter with fun Halloween costumes.
Paint Pumpkins
Many seniors struggle with grip strength, which can make it impossible to carve a pumpkin. Luckily, there’s an alternative. Rather than using a knife to make a pumpkin masterpiece, pick up paint and a paintbrush and create a scene on the pumpkin.
Painting doesn’t require as much strength or coordination as carving and it isn’t as messy if you’re careful with your placement of the paint. You can do it by yourself or have a pumpkin painting contest with all of your closest friends.
Related: How to Stay Connected With Grandkids(Long Distance Grandparent)
Have a Monster Movie Marathon
If you’re a senior who has fun with scary movies, gather your friends and family for a monster movie marathon. You can choose the level of scariness you’re ready to enjoy and set up a lineup with wonderful snacks, cozy blankets, and wonderful fall drinks.
Ideas to make a monster movie cozier include the following:
- Dimming the lights
- Popcorn
- Apples and caramel
There are many ways to enjoy a monster movie marathon.
Since seniors need 7-8 hours of sleep, you can even start the experience before the sun sets. If it gets too late, consider having everyone stay over for a cozy sleepover. You can still have a slumber party as seniors!
Make DIY Decorations
It’s fun to purchase Halloween decorations at your local store, but you can also make DIY decorations to have a get-together and create products you can display around your home. Plus, making DIY decorations will provide a feeling of accomplishment after you all go home.
Consider making homemade decorations like the following:
- Candy corn vases
- Mummy mason jars
- Paper bat garlands
There’s much to experiment with in homemade decorations. You can participate in more intense DIY decorations if you’ve crafted for a long time, or perform simple activities if you want to stick with basic cutting and gluing. Creativity is the key to having a fun evening.
Create DIY Shirts
All you need is a plain t-shirt and some fabric paint to create an unforgettable DIY shirt. You can buy both these products via Amazon or take a trip to your local hobby shop to gather your supplies. You can paint your shirt solo or gather friends to make the shift of your dreams.
Possible designs for your DIY shirt include the following:
- Ghosts
- Pumpkins
- Pumpkin spice latte
You can put whatever you want on your DIY shirt. Go with smaller shirts for a cozy fit or larger ones for a bedtime shirt or a looser fit. Also, ensure you turn the shifts inside-out when watching to keep the pattern on the shirt when cleaning.
Play Halloween Charades
Finally, consider Halloween charades with a group of friends. You can write down tons of Halloween-themed words on slips of paper and place them in a bowl, drawing them out one by one and trying to get partners to guess what you’re doing.
You can have prizes for the winner or play it for fun. Also, if you get tired of Halloween charades, you can mix in some normal words to ease out the night.
Enjoying Halloween as a Senior
Although you can’t do the same thing as children on Halloween, it’s still possible to participate in fun Halloween activities as an older adult. From hosting a party to playing charades, you can take it at your own pace for a fun-packed night.
We hope these details are encouraging. No matter how old you are, there is a way to enjoy Halloween. Older adults can get together with friends or hang out with family to make the evening more memorable.
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