Caring for a loved one is undoubtedly challenging. It takes effort to keep their morale up, as well as your own. Caregiving can also be a blessing. It makes you appreciate the simple things in life. It makes you reassess what really brings you joy and pleasure, as well as your loved one. Once you have determined those things, it is often easier to re-evaluate your priorities.
The changing of the seasons is sometimes difficult for your loved one. When health is not at its best, it is not always easy or possible for your loved one to enjoy the things they used to enjoy.With a little thought and creativity you can help your loved one enjoy some of the pleasures and wonders of the fall season. As you see your loved one experience enjoyment, you will share in that enjoyment also. Treasure the little things. Enjoy the moment.
Here is a list of easy and enjoyable fall activities to enjoy with your loved one:
- Take your loved one for a drive to see the fall colors.
- Drive them to a pumpkin patch roadside stand. Let them pick out the pumpkin. If they can’t walk out into the field, hold up some pumpkins to the car window for your loved one to view and vote from inside the car. Is it a thumbs up or thumbs down?
- Drive them to an apple orchard to watch or help you pick apples or select a container of apples to buy. Take a deep breath and smell that awesome fresh orchard smell! Let them choose their favorite variety.
- Make their favorite apple or pumpkin dessert. What do they like? Apple Pie? Apple Crisp? Pumpkin Pie? Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting?
- Decorate inside and outside of their house with fall décor. This can be very fun and colorful. Use your imagination! How about a couple of skeletons sitting across from each other at a picnic table, as if they are having a conversation? Go ahead, put a couple of soda or water bottles in front of them and pose their hands as if they are gesturing!
- If your loved one is not sensitive to odors, put some lightly scented items with fall odors around the house. You could use pumpkin, cinnamon, or apple scents. If you are concerned about the odor being too much, perhaps an essential oil would give your loved one a feeling of calm and relaxation.
- Seat your loved one where he or she can see the trick or treaters and let them hand out candy, if they wish.
- Send them a series of silly fall-themed cards over several days to bring a smile to their face.
- Give them a pumpkin! A ceramic or plastic reusable decorative pumpkin is quite festive to display inside or outside. You don’t have to worry about this one freezing outside. Another option is to give them a real pumpkin to decorate. They can easily draw a face on it with a wide-tipped black permanent marker. This takes little effort and won’t wilt like carved pumpkins, so it will last much longer.
- Reminisce! Help your loved one recall fun memories of parties, trick or treating, and their costumes from the past. Perhaps your loved one’s family had some fall traditions. My family used to hunt deer on Thanksgiving Day, followed by a huge Thanksgiving evening meal. As we enjoyed Thanksgiving supper, tall tales from the day of hunting in the woods abounded.
- Ask them to help you plan the Thanksgiving menu and decorations. Don’t forget to include your loved one’s favorites! If your loved one likes to do crafts, perhaps they would like to help make place cards or table decorations.
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