February is upon us and that means it is time for the holiday all about celebrating love: Valentine’s Day! While it can be very commercialized and made out to be a time only for celebrating couples and romantic partners, that simply isn’t true! Valentine’s Day can be for anyone and everyone, with gestures celebrating love and affection for the important people in our lives, whether they are our spouses or partners, family members, or friends.
So if you are a resident at Palm Spring senior living, and you are wanting to give a loved one a token of gratitude for the holiday, what can be done? Below we have compiled a list of some great Valentine’s activities you can try as a way to help you jump into the holiday!
1.) Set the Stage
No matter what holiday you are celebrating, nothing gets you in a festive spirit like having a fun environment filled with decorations and the right color scheme. This is also the perfect holiday for busting out some DIY creations. Whether you enjoy crafting alone, or want to try these with a friend of grandchildren, we have some fairly simple and budget-friendly ideas.
Simple Decor Ideas:
- Cut out hearts of various colors out of construction paper. Have a staff member or family member assist you and put them up around your room or apartment. Stick them to the wall, the doors, the nurse’s station – wherever you post them, they are sure to bring a smile to people’s faces.
- Go for the unique! Take colored tissue paper – pink, white, or a light red – and make hearts out of those. Stick them to the window to make a sort of ‘stained glass’ look when the sunlight filters in. The effect it has on the room will leave you amazed!
- Paper chains are always a fun idea, and can make a great Valentine’s Day gift to share with other residents or even staff members to include at their desks. Cut out strips of construction paper and then make an interlocking chain by pasting or stapling them together. Some people even leave up their Christmas tree year round and decorate according to various holidays, so if that is something you enjoy doing, this would make a great tree garland.
2.) Time with Family and Friends
Let Valentine’s Day be just another great reason to spend time with family and friends! Go out for coffee together, take a walk if the weather is nice, have a movie day with friends – this doesn’t have to be anything over the top, just a simple way to connect and socialize with one another. If you have grandchildren, do these crafts together or bake up something sweet. Volunteering is also a great way to spread love! Or, check out one of the various charity Valentine’s Day pancake feeds or soup suppers where donations are dedicated to helping those in need.
3.) Send Cards
Everyone loves getting a fun and festive card in the mail, regardless of the season. It is always a good feeling to walk down to the mailbox and find a little joy and thoughtfulness sealed away inside. However, purchasing greeting cards at the local grocery store or supermarket can be kind of expensive. You don’t have to break the bank to send love, however! Putting a touch of homemade on any gift is always a great choice.
Plus, if there is a special caregiver, nurse, or staff member at Palm Springs senior living that you want to acknowledge or appreciate, a card is a great way to do so! Written gestures like that are one of the simplest, yet most sincere, ways to show appreciation.
4.) Homemade Treats
What is a holiday celebration without some of the best treats? Heart-shaped sugar cookies, cupcakes with pink frosting, and strawberry-filled desserts topped with little sprinkles are all a staple of Valentine’s Day celebrations. Sharing is caring, and we know that the staff and other residents will certainly feel the love when they bite into your homemade creations! So whether you’ve whipped something up yourself, or a loved one dropped something by, a delicious treat is the quickest way to someone’s heart.
5.) Love On Your Community
Believe it or not, Valentine’s Day is a great way to show a different kind of love, and that’s love for your neighbor. While many folks feel charitable around Christmas time, having a spirit of giving year round will certainly make the world a little brighter. If you are a senior who loves to knit or sew, gather up a group of friends from your Palm Spring senior living facility and work on making creations for donation. This can include blankets for children’s homes, as well as caps and scarves to local homeless shelters. Include a few homemade cards as well, and this action will certainly impact someone’s life.
6.) Switch on a Rom-Com
There are so many great movies out there that center around love and humor. Whether you want to settle in with your partner, or laugh with a group of friends, choosing to watch some of your favorite films is sure to bring a boost in your spirits as well as bring a smile to your face. Make up some of the best Valentine’s Day themed snacks, bust out the popcorn, and sit back for a night of laughter and fun!
Activities at Palms Spring Senior Living
Here at Bayshire Rancho Mirage, we are so excited for the upcoming holiday! Our activities calendar is booked with festivities meant to help our residents get into the spirit of things.
For the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, we will be hosting a spirit week with a new theme each day. This includes ‘Flower Power’, ‘Crazy Socks’, ‘Team Jersey’, and so much more! Not only that, but we are looking forward to offering other fun activities, too, such as a Valentine’s Day movie night, Valentine’s trivia, and sharing treats with everyone.
So no matter how you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, we know that by sticking to this list, you’re sure to have a memorable holiday!
