Spring Activities For The Elderly

That picture above is of my Mom with a Spring bouquet of flowers I gathered from my yard. She always loved fresh flowers, and I always loved bringing them to her.Spr

Spring Activities For The Elderly

When finding Spring activities that my elderly Mom would enjoy, I had to find activities that met a few requirements:

• Outdoor activities had to be handicapped accessible (she could walk but I took her out in a wheelchair for her ease), and
• Outings had to be fairly short (an hour or two).
• Activities would, hopefully, stimulate Mom’s senses.

One of our favorite Spring activities was to go the the local Brookside Gardens where they have a butterfly exhibit. I’d roll her up and down the paths while we both delighted in the colors surrounding us and the flittering butterflies that would occasionally land on her. We’d spend an hour or so looking at the new Spring growth in the plants, and then I’d take her to a nice lunch on the way home. Mom always thanked me for her day as I tucked her into bed at night. She was something else.

If you have an elderly loved one and are struggling to find things to do that they will like, come on in and sit for a spell. I’ll document as many Spring activities for the elderly as I can.

We loved to take mom to the local butterfly exhibit every spring.

Visit a Local Arboretum

If your loved one is able, take him or her to the local arboretum to view the Spring flowers. Even if the weather is stormy outside (April showers bring May flowers…), arboretums are indoors and will allow your senior citizen friend to smell, touch, and savor the coming Spring.
Here’s a handy list of List of Botanical Gardens and Arboretums by State.

Plan A Picnic With Your Senior Citizen Loved One

Picnics are always a lot of fun, even if it’s raining out on a Spring day. You can easily bring a picnic indoors with a pretty checkered table cloth and some picnic fare, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chips. Get creative and have fun with a picnic – add some Spring flowers as a centerpiece and you’re good to go.

 Largo Two Person Picnic Basket (Natural) Household Essentials Woven Willow Picnic Basket, Square Shaped, Fully Lined, Service for 4 Quickway Imports QI003046 Picnic Basket with Red White Plaid Lining Picnic Time Somerset Willow Picnic Basket with Deluxe Service for Two

Bring Spring Inside With Flowering Bulbs

Mom wasn’t always up to going outside to enjoy the Spring so I worked hard to bring it inside to her periodically.

Even if your elderly loved one is not able to get up and go outside, you can easily bring the Spring season by forcing some bulbs inside. Forcing bulbs is incredibly easy and can even be done in a small vase with only water – no dirt mess to clean up (I’m speaking from experience here). The smell of a paper white narcissic may well remind your senior citizen friend of Springs past.

These forced flower kits on Amazon.com come with the vase although you can force a bulb in just a regular drinking glass of water:

 Royal Purple Hyacinth Bulb and Glass Vase for Forcing – Peter StuyvesantCheck Price Nearly Natural 4827 Amaryllis with Round Vase, RedCheck Price White Hyacinth Bulb in Clear Glass Hyacinth VaseCheck Price Charisma Amaryllis Bulb – Single Blooming Amaryllis, Easy to Grow BulbsCheck Price Chase the Blues Away (22 Bulbs) Garden Pre-Planted in Decorative Printed Metal Flower PotCheck Price Double Dragon Amaryllis Bulb – Double Blooming Amaryllis, Easy to Grow BulbsCheck Price Apple Blossom Amaryllis Bulb – Single Blooming Amaryllis, Easy to Grow BulbsCheck Price

Window bird feeders will bring the birds up close and personal this Spring

My mom and I both loved these window bird feeders – but, alas, we found that, in my very old farmhouse (circa 1857), having the seed too close to the house brought in mice. Now, don’t get me wrong; I don’t have anything personal with mice, in fact, I find them sort of endearing but when they started to claim the kitchen as theirs, they had to go. And, so did my window birdfeeders. But, if you’re in a more airtight house, these window birdfeeders are a fantastic way to create a Spring activity for the elderly – birdwatching!

 Window Bird Feeder, Squirrel Proof – See Through Bird Feeder Lets You Watch Wild Birds From Inside Your Home Birdscapes Clear Window Feeder 348 Droll Yankees OWF Observer Window Bird Feeder Aspects Window Cafe 3/4 Quart Garden Song 101-4 Dine Around Window Bird Feeder

Birdwatching Book Make Feeding The Birds Much More Interesting

I used to man the birdwatching books while Mom would tell me what colors and characteristics the birds she saw had. We had many pleasurable afternoons watching our feathered friends:

 Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Birds: Eastern Region (Stokes Field Guide Series) Backyard Birds of Virginia: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds Birding for Beginners: A Comprehensive Introduction To The Art Of Birdwatching (Birding Series) The Joy of Birding: A Beginner’s Guide (The Joy of Series)

Redecorate Your Senior Citizen Loved One’s Bedroom to Bring In The Spring

My mom and I both love quilts – the lighter, the better! So, we each had at least 4 different quilts that we would use to change the decor of the bedroom. Mom’s favorite springtime quilt was yellow and covered in spring flowers. It made both of us smile.

If your elderly loved one cannot get out shopping, bring the shopping to them by sitting next to them as you surf the web for spring motif bedroom designs. You might be surprised to see what a lift to the spirit can be gotten just from this small change.

 Purple, Green, Orange & White Girls Multi Flower Full Comforter Set (7 Piece Bed In A Bag) 3-piece Reversible coverlet, Quilt Set, bedpread, Full-Queen Size, flower 7PC Spring Garberville Embroidery Flower Sage Mocha Comforter Set – KING – *On Sale!* Frank and Lulu Spring Meadow Twin Comforter Set