To celebrate the autumn season, we have looked at some autumn activity ideas that you or your Live-in Carer may enjoy with your elderly relative. These activities are also suitable for children with learning disabilities, and may minimise the effect of the SAD symptoms!
The activities we suggest are simple, inexpensive, and fun!
Autumn offers a wide range of beautiful colours, which vary from summer green to fiery red. This might be the best time to enjoy autumn-themed colouring books. Colouring is an activity which everyone enjoys, from the very young to the very old. A Home Carer will provide your loved one with support during this activity if they find it difficult to hold a pencil or a brush.
As an added bonus, colouring has stress-busting abilities similar to meditating, according to psychological studies.
There are plenty of free, autumn themed colouring books available online or at craft and book shops. Our favourites are autumn scenes with trees, leaves, pumpkins, scarecrows, animals, and Halloween designs including a few classic Disney characters – the list is endless!
Why not make autumn decorations to mark the change of seasons? It could also be a good opportunity to display some of your finished colouring pages!
Here are a couple of simple and fun DIY ideas:
An autumn leaf bouquet or garland will bring some gorgeous colours inside. Collecting fallen leaves will get you and your loved one out of the house to enjoy the fresh and sunny days
Clove-studded orange pomanders are delicious-smelling and beautiful home décor. This activity is great to stimulate eye and hand coordination, a cognitive skill that contributes to wellbeing
If you or your loved one struggle with any elements of these activities, get support from your Live-in Carer - they will be more than happy to get involved!
Long evenings are perfect for working on an autumn-themed jigsaw puzzle. Get a cup of tea, spread the puzzle pieces on the table and get into the festive autumn mood – what a great way to celebrate this season.
The online retail store Amazon.co.uk offers a wide range of jigsaw puzzles specifically designed for people Alzheimer’s or dementia. They are beautifully illustrated, have vibrant pictures that are fantastic for sparking conversations and memories.
Early autumn is perfect time to start preparing for Halloween trick-or-treaters. Your Living in Carer will enjoy assisting you or your loved one with the preparations, and on the other hand if your loved one has dementia and might be nervous around this holiday, a Live-in Carer will ensure they are safe and happy at home.
Here are some ideas:
Make little individual pumpkin pouch goody bags from tissue paper, fill them with treats and leave on the porch – it's exciting to open them and discover what is inside! These treat bags can be prepared in advance and placed on the porch so trick-or-treaters can help themselves.
Someone with dementia might enjoy sorting a mixed bag of sweets into different containers. It is a great that helps them feel included – even if you do not really need the sweets to be sorted.
For people with different mobility levels, activity can be adapted:
Open a window to smell the fresh air and take in the scenery.
Relax in the garden.
Walk to your local mailbox to post some cards and letters, then walk back.
Stroll a block or two in the neighbourhood and say hello to friends.
These easy and cost effective autumn activities will reduce the seasonal blues your loved ones may suffer from and bring back joy and happiness – a simple way to combat low mood and depression.
Get in touch with our customer care team, whether you want to discuss about your Home Care options or simply learn about Live-in Care: hello@access-care.co.uk