When Halloween ends, many stores sweep up their spooky décor and put Christmas decorations in their place. It’s great to be excited about the impending holiday season, however, we’d be remiss to forget about the holiday that starts the season: Thanksgiving.
For many seniors, Thanksgiving is an exciting holiday, as it’s one of the few days a year when the entire family gets together. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving in your home this year or helping a loved one plan their festivities, try these easy Thanksgiving décor for seniors. Putting together a craft is a great way to stimulate the brain while having fun.
Real leaf garland
Once you’ve gathered leaves from your yard or local park, there are a couple of ways you can go about making a leaf garland. The easiest way is to press leaves in a book for a few days, and then string them together with a needle and thread.
However, these leaves will be quite brittle when they dry, so the best way to ensure their longevity is to dip them in beeswax. Once they dry, you’ll thread them through the stem and have your garland ready! This is great to hang up on walls, or even to lay on your Thanksgiving table as a centerpiece.
Pinecone place holder
This craft is truly the easiest one on the list. First, find a supply of pinecones. Then, print out (or write) the names of your guests, cut them into small strips, and place them inside the top of the pinecone. If you’d like to dress the pinecones up slightly, mix glue and glitter, then roll them in the mixture.
Fall wreath
An autumnal wreath is a perfect way to set the scene for your seasonal festivities. It’s difficult to instruct how to make one, as there are so many options, but start with a wreath base from a craft store. Then, you can add whatever you’d like to it. Look online for some wreath inspirations—like leaves, eucalyptus, or whatever else calls to you.
Rope cornucopia
Cornucopias are a quintessential sign of Thanksgiving that represent a bountiful harvest, and they make great centerpieces. Making a cornucopia out of rope is much easier than you might think it is—all it requires is thick jute twine and hot glue! Once you’ve formed the shape, you can fill it with whatever fruits and vegetables you’d like.
Pumpkin vases
Pumpkins are cute on their own, but they can be made into lovely displays of art when you turn them into a vase. Find a pumpkin of your choice and hollow it out, then place a Styrofoam block inside. Arrange a floral display with fake or real greenery. You could even include string battery-operated lights for additional magic.
If you don’t want to worry about the pumpkin going bad, you could buy a carve-able craft pumpkin and do the same. Painted pumpkins will give you an even more unique look
DIY napkin rings
Napkin rings are a great way to spruce up your Thanksgiving table. Thankfully, there are many easy options for seniors to create. A few options include:
- A simple bundle of twine, a leaf, and a pinecone (or acorn)
- Wire and nuts strung together
- A button and string
- Printed craft paper
Thanksgiving banner with doilies
Instead of using doilies to decorate your dining room table, get creative with them. Paint them with fall colors and glue them down a strip of ribbon. You could be done here, but adding glitter and a small leaf will make the banner really pop.
Thankful tree
This time of year, you’re likely thinking about all you’re thankful for. Encourage your loved ones to do the same with a thankful tree. A simple jar and gathered sticks easily transform into a beautiful tree. Add ribbon and other vase filler for a truly lovely display.
On wooden chalkboard tags (which you can purchase or make with small wood slices and chalk paint) your loved ones will write what it is they are thankful for. Then, they’ll hang it on the tree to display to all your guests.
Your at-home caregiver can help with your Thanksgiving crafts
Your at-home caregiver can help with any and all activities of daily living you require. In addition to personal care and medication reminders, your caregiver can help with grocery shopping, meal preparations, and brain games. With their assistance, you can focus on whatever is most important to you– like spending time with family during the holidays.
Our at-home caregivers are here to help. For more information on our services, call us at 773-274-9262.
