5 Ideas to Celebrate Labor Day with Your Senior Loved One (2017)

With Labor Day around the corner, we know that summer is winding down and fall activities with cooler weather will be amongst us soon. While Labor Day is often thought of as a milestone for the changing seasons, here at Concordia, we know that Labor Day is a great opportunity for you and your loved ones to celebrate the fun of summer once more while honoring the achievements of hardworking men and women.

 Whether your loved one is living at their house with help from you or a visiting nurse, or at an assisted living facility or nursing home, there are a number of fun ways that you and your loved one can celebrate the holiday together. Here are 5 activities that you can enjoy with your aging loved one this Labor Day:

1) Make a Craft – Stimulate your loved one’s creativity by making a small craft together. You can make this activity festive by including the patriotic colors of red, white and blue while constructing a card, drawing fireworks, or making an American flag. You can even invite the children in your family to join in on the activity to ultimately create a bonding experience between your elders and the younger generation. When preparing for craft-making, remember to use non-toxic supplies, such as kid-friendly glues and paints.

2) Host a Cookout – Before you get ready to bring your cooking back inside for the rest of the year, fire up the grill and host a cookout for your loved one. There is no better way to say goodbye to summer weather than by grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. You can welcome your loved one to help prepare for the cookout by putting together a vase of flowers for the centerpiece or by preparing the hamburger and hotdog toppings. When planning your menu, make sure to take into consideration any food restrictions that your loved one may have.

3) Look Back – Many of our senior loved ones spent so much time looking after us or being grandparents that they rarely ever had a chance to tell us about their work life growing up. Simply looking back at special memories can be a meaningful and enjoyable way to spend the Labor Day holiday. Ask questions! You can talk about past work experiences, make a scrapbook of photos, prepare a family tree or record your family history. Make the time together even more special and share with them their favorite treat – such as sparkling juice and their favorite dessert. 

4) Take a Small Trip – Take advantage of the warm weather by enjoying a small trip with your loved one. Visit a nearby park, a peaceful lake or a small town that has nice sightseeing attractions. Check the weather forecasts ahead of time and have another idea in mind in case you need a backup plan. Also, be sure to keep your loved one’s limits in mind such as making sure the place you’re visiting isn’t too crowded or that too much walking isn’t involved. Ultimately, you want to make sure that your loved one is comfortable and the activity isn’t too tiring.

5) Listen to Music – When spending time with your loved one this Labor Day holiday, invite them to listen to music. Music often has a resounding effect on people of all ages and has a way of connecting people. You can play patriotic music such as The Star-Spangled Banner, God Bless America, This Land Is Your Land and America the Beautiful, and mix in some favorite songs from your loved one’s era, too, to possibly bring back some memories. 

We hope these ideas inspire you to enjoy the upcoming holiday with your senior loved ones. The important thing to remember is that spending time together – regardless of when, where or how you do it – is what matters the most. If you try any of these activities, please comment below and let us know how they went, or feel free to comment with other ideas that you might have. We wish you and yours a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday!

If you have questions about Concordia or are interested in how we can help you and your loved one, please feel free to contact us any time via our online contact form or by calling our administrative headquarters at 724-352-1571. Or, visit the care levels & services page of our website to learn about the types of care we offer, including In-Home Care, Memory Care, Long-Term Nursing Care, Adult Day Services, Hospice Care and more.