With scary costumes, trick-or-treating, and parties in haunted houses, Halloween brings its kind of spooktastic enjoyment. Sadly, the kids seem to be having all the fun.
The spooky season is for everyone, and we are sure seniors also want to get in on it. Some activities are too physically demanding, while the more embraced option of giving out candy gets tiresome after a few years.
If you're a senior living in Lexington, Georgetown, Nicholasville, or Shelbyville, KY, here are a few things to spice up the Halloween season. In fact, some of these have beneficial health effects.
1. Attend a Halloween Event
Seniors around Lexington live in one of the best Halloween destinations in the US. Staying indoors deprives you of most of the entertainment, so here are some of the events available before the season ends.
- Halloween Festival & Thriller Parade
- Jack-o-lantern Trail
- The Dia de los Muertos Festival
- Freaky Flicks, where you watch family-friendly movies like Hocus Pocus and Ghostbusters: Afterlife
- Lexington Trick-or-Treat
Lexington has more family-friendly events to offer throughout October. Engaging in outdoor activities like these is a way to get those healthy walks in without setting extra time aside.
2. Dress Up in Spooky Outfits
Who says the elderly can't get into costumes and be fully immersed in the fun of the season? Seniors who want to dress up like their favorite characters should be assisted in making costumes and allowed to adorn them when the scary hours approach. This comes with a few extra tips, however.
Costumes for seniors should be simple, comfortable for both the senior and the caregiver, and easy to walk in. Avoid masks so you never inhibit breathing and use fire-resistant apparel as much as you can.
3. Watch a Barely Scary Halloween Movie
For any celebratory season, there are movies created to bring everyone in the right mood. Halloween isn't left out of this. However, regardless of how interesting movies get, when the elderly are involved, the spooky season becomes peculiar.
Watching scary movies causes increased levels of panic and anxiety. These are bad, so we suggest opting for movies like:
- The Addams Family Values
- Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Something Wicked This Way Comes
- Beetlejuice
These movies are family-friendly without extreme jump scare-scenes, perfect for everyone to bond through.
4. Invite People Over
Hosting Halloween parties combines a lot of interesting activities for seniors. Seniors get to help with Halloween decorations, invite friends over for a potluck and trivia, play pumpkin games, and make Halloween cards. But these aren't all.
Seniors and invitees can even dress up in costumes and watch movies during the party to maximize the fun. If there's a knock on the door by the cute little trick-or-treaters, the elderly don't need to answer the door all the time. Someone else can do that instead.
With Halloween, Seniors Have Nothing to be Afraid of
Halloween brings another time for celebration, and health concerns shouldn't limit seniors from staying involved. Senior Helpers Lexington home care professionals offer services to get the most out of this season.
Whether independent or not, seniors may be accompanied to events, helped with getting into costumes, or even assisted with organizing a Halloween party. Contact us today to get the Halloween-specific in-home care you need to make the season unforgettable. Happy Halloween!