Halloween for the Elderly: COVID-proof Activities and Ideas

Halloween is only a week away. Now is the time to start preparing for trick-or-treaters, scheduling get-togethers and planning for other spooky Halloween festivities. If you are a senior citizen in Philadelphia or the child/grandchild of a local senior, do not assume the elderly cannot partake in all the fun Halloween activities. Be creative and you will find there are several ways to safely participate in Halloween even as the pandemic continues.

Whip up Some Tasty Halloween Treats

You can socially distance without completely skipping Halloween. Stay inside this year, bake some delicious cookies, cupcakes and other sugary concoctions with your family and play some Halloween music to get into the spirit of the holiday. A Graveyard Cake, a Berry Scary Martini and a Brainy Cupcake will lift your spirit and also provide something sweet to enjoy. 

A Halloween Movie Marathon

Instead of venturing out to a Philadelphia movie theater and risking exposure to coronavirus, stay inside and watch a couple Halloween movies with your parent, grandparent or other elderly relative. Fill a bowl with Halloween candy, stretch out on the couch with some warm blankets and enjoy a Halloween movie marathon.

Hold a Scavenger Hunt

If your parent or other elderly loved one is capable of walking and bending over without significant pain, hold a scavenger hunt on Halloween afternoon. Hide sweets and diminutive Halloween decorations around the house, dress up in a spooky costume and have a contest to see who can find the most Halloween treasures.

Create Your own Halloween Costume

As long as your beloved senior citizen doesn’t have painful hand/finger arthritis, creating a Halloween costume will be fun and fulfilling. Break out the sewing machine, draw some costume designs and bring them to life. Once your Halloween costumes are ready to go, load up on the candy and wait by the door for trick-or-treaters. 

Just be sure the costume you select doesn’t have a mask that restricts airflow.  Also, lean toward costumes that are more of a snug fit than a loose fit as costume elements that dangle or drag are that much more likely to result in a potentially debilitating trip and fall.

Consider Holding a Virtual Halloween Party

In-person Halloween parties will undoubtedly occur throughout the greater Philadelphia area and beyond this October. However, surrounding yourself with potential virus-carriers is especially dangerous if you are a senior citizen. 

You can enjoy the company of others without leaving your home by participating in a virtual Halloween party. If you are a Philadelphia senior citizen, ask your care provider or a family member to help you set up a Zoom videoconference where you interact with your family and friends through your computer and you won’t have to spend this Halloween alone. Be sure to don your favorite Halloween costume during the virtual get-together to enjoy this special time of the year to the fullest.

Schedule Home Care With AmeriBest

There is no shame in asking for help, especially when you have reached your golden years. If you or a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle in Philadelphia need assistance in the home, reach out to AmeriBest today. You can reach our Philadelphia care providers by phone at 215-925-3313 or through our contact form.

What is Respiratory Care and why Seniors and Caregivers Should Know About It?

The final week of October is Respiratory Care Week. Respiratory care becomes increasingly important throughout the aging process. If you have a senior in your life or are a senior yourself, you will greatly benefit from respiratory care knowledge and strategies. However, most people are understandably unaware as to what this unique type of care is really all about. Here’s a quick look at the basics of respiratory care for seniors.

Recognize the Importance of Respiratory Health for Seniors

Senior caretakers and seniors themselves tend to focus on the loss of bone strength throughout the aging process for good reason. Bone loss prevention is certainly important yet respiratory health is also essential to maintaining a high quality of life through the golden years. A senior with a chronic respiratory problem such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will struggle to perform self-care and complete the activities necessary for daily living. 

If you are a caretaker for a parent or grandparent, be sure to wash your hands before interacting with him or her to help prevent the transmission of germs that might cause an infection that leads to breathing difficulties. Even the common cold has the potential to cause breathing problems. 

It also makes sense for the senior in your life to minimize interactions with Philadelphia community members during flu season. Ideally, one or two primary caregivers will provide assistance to your elderly loved one during the winter months to minimize the potential transmission of germs and viruses.

Respiratory Care for Philadelphia Seniors

A respiratory problem makes it difficult to perform daily tasks, especially when you reach your 60s, 70s, and 80s. A senior diagnosed with such a condition will require ongoing assistance to do everything from bathing and grooming to meal preparation and even household tasks such as vacuuming. 

Respiratory problems have the potential to make it challenging to walk from the house to the car or even from the bedroom to the kitchen. Hold onto your parent’s arm when walking for additional support. The use of a walker or cane will also facilitate safe walking inside and outside of the home.

Mind the Indoor Air Quality

Most senior citizens spend the vast majority of their time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor air isn’t as clean as outdoor air. Though heating and cooling system filters remove some toxins and other particles from indoor air, they don’t remove every potential threat. Change these filters once every month or two to ensure they can trap as many nasty particles as possible. If you vacuum for the senior in your life, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to eliminate as many allergens, pollen, dust, and other diminutive particles from the living space.

Help the Senior Citizen in Your Life Choose the Right Clothing

An elderly individual who struggles to breathe will find tight clothing makes it that much more difficult to breathe without impediment. In particular, overly-tight clothing around the abdominal region, the chest, and the neck can constrain breathing. Go clothes shopping with your elderly loved one, choose nonrestrictive garments including those with elastic bands for additional flexibility, and he or she will have that much more freedom to expand the chest and diaphragm for easy breathing.

AmeriBest Home Care is Here to Help

Our home care providers have helped seniors throughout the greater Philadelphia area enjoy a better quality of life. Whether you or your loved one has a respiratory ailment, mobility limitations, or simply struggles completing daily living tasks, our Philadelphia care providers are here to lend invaluable assistance. Contact us today at 215-925-3313 or by email at info@ameribest.org to coordinate service at your Philadelphia-area home.