Although Valentine’s Day is billed as a holiday for couples, it provides an excuse for us to celebrate anyone we love. February 14th is the perfect time to remind your loved one in assisted living or memory care that they have a special place in your heart. If you have the opportunity, plan to spend some quality time with your elderly loved ones – whether in a senior residence or at their home. And don’t forget to bring a gift!

You may wonder just what you can buy for the senior who needs very little – so here are some inspired ideas to make their Valentine’s Day special this year.

Great Valentine’s Day Activities

  • Decorate: We may not associate Valentine’s Day with decorating as we do with other holidays. But that doesn’t mean you can’t brighten their space considerably. You can bring them red, pink and white flowers – carnations are affordable and festive. You can also ask them to help you create some decorations. Try cutting out hearts together and adding heartfelt messages of love and encouragement. Hang them on windows, doors and mirrors so your loved one is reminded of your love all day long.
  • Party: Every day is a great day to celebrate love and family. Bring a few family members, pick up some of your senior’s favorite goodies, and have a celebration together. Even just tea and cookies surrounded by friends and family will do wonders to boost spirits and spread the love.
  • Create: Encourage your senior loved one to get their creative juices flowing. Get some small canvases and paint, or simply paper and markers. Ask them to create a Valentine’s Day themed work of art! This activity is especially fun if they have young grandchildren or great-grandchildren who can participate, leaving Grandma and Grandpa with a collection of Valentine’s Day artwork to adorn their refrigerator.
  • Bake: If your loved one has a love of baking, coordinate an afternoon of baking cherry pies or pink-icing cookies. Those living in assisted living or memory care may be able to access a kitchen area to cook (ask administrators) or better yet – talk to staff about arranging an event for the whole community to participate in! If no kitchen is available, bring pre-baked sugar cookies along with sprinkles, icing, or other decorations to make personalized cookies. Idea: If health concerns don’t allow for sugar consumption, fruit such as strawberries, melon, and grapes make colorful skewers worthy of celebrating.
  • Reminisce: Ask your senior Valentine to watch one of their all-time classic romantic movies with you, such as An Affair to Remember or Casablanca. If they have a more modern taste in movies, try 50 First Dates.

    Gifts Anyone Will Love – Especially Your Senior Family Member

    Floral arrangements bring joy to any space and can share some of the outdoors and nature with a homebound senior. Fresh cut bouquets are always a wonderful surprise, or you can choose a lush green flowering plant if you want it to last longer. Extra bonus: Plants help to purify air and are known to increase overall well-being.

    Candy is a classic Valentine’s gift, just make sure there are no dietary restrictions to consider. If your loved one adores chocolate but shouldn’t have a whole box of candy, how about chocolate dipped fruit? And while you may think that stuffed animals are only appropriate for children, a soft and cuddly stuffed animal can make a fantastic gift for your elderly loved one, especially if they are living with dementia. Plush puppies or kittens can bring comfort and even a feeling of companionship to elderly individuals who are prone to feeling anxious or confused.

    Happy Valentine’s Day from My Care Finders

    My Care Finders was established out of love, and we continue to dedicate our efforts to ensuring that the people you love receive the best possible care. We look forward to helping many more families in 2024.