Last updated on January 29th, 2024
Mardi Gras is a legendary celebration for all ages and has been a big deal in Louisiana since the first parade rolled in the 1700s. Mardi Gras is also known as Fat Tuesday, the day where families gather to catch throws, eat king cake, honor krewe royalty, dance, and drink.
With some creativity, your aging loved one too can join in on the festivities, even if they receive senior home care in the Lafayette, LA, area. By gathering a few items in advance, you can help to create the ultimate fun-filled New Orleans-style Mardi Gras day for any senior adult.
Mardi Gras Crafts for the Elderly
Beads
This is the one thing that never gets skipped during Mardi Gras events. Beads can become a craft activity for your aging loved one to string up, or they can be bought. Passing out Mardi Gras beads is a good way to put seniors in the mood for a more festive event.
Noisemakers
Suppling noisemakers such as bells, horns, clappers, or kazoos is a good way for seniors to join in on the fun as entertainment. They could also make their own tambourine out of paper plates or drums out of coffee cans. They can decorate the instruments as detailed as they would like by using art materials.
Masks
Elderly seniors can create their own masks using art materials or be provided with a ready-to-wear one. Masks can be made from cardboard and decorated with glitter, feathers, and other embellishments.
Mardi Gras masks help to add a bit of mystery to any fun masquerade celebration. Simpler craft ideas for seniors with limited mobility include decorating hats and headbands with beads and feathers. These activities provide cognitive stimulation and improve dexterity.
Wreaths
For added decoration, making a Mardi Gras wreath can be a fun activity elderly seniors can do alone or in a group. Wreaths can spruce up the door of an entryway or be hung as a display over a certain area.
Centerpieces
These can be made as simple or as fancy as desired by using bottles or jars that have been painted in Mardi Gras colors.
Pins
Elderly seniors can customize their pins to add a little Mardi Gras fun to their outfits. This is a good way for them to feel like they sparkle at the party.
Doubloons
Also known as Mardi Gras coins, doubloons can be used as party favors, incorporated in the table centerpieces, or can be hidden throughout the room for elderly seniors to find during the festivities.
Balloons
Decorating with balloons using the colors that are significant to Mardi Gras: green (faith), purple (justice), and gold (power), can bring to life the feel of the festivities.
Non-alcoholic drinks
Elderly seniors can enjoy plastic glasses filled with a mocktail-version drink or sparkling cider when toasting the Mardi Gras carnival season.
Cupcakes
Elderly seniors who are not crafty but still want to join in on the fun can partake in a baking activity. They could help to decorate cupcakes and cookies with edible glitter, sprinkles, or other toppings in the Mardi Gras colors.
Mardi Gras Activities for Seniors
Mardi Gras Cuisine Prep
Mardi Gras is a time to indulge in delicious Cajun and Creole cuisine. Getting seniors involved in preparing some classic dishes like jambalaya or gumbo or even just enjoying a slice of king cake is a fun way to celebrate. The dishes keep favorite food traditions and recipes alive.
Mardi Gras Games
Play Mardi Gras themed bingo with beads as markers, or hold a scavenger hunt for hidden doubloons. Get creative with intergenerational games that involve young grandchildren.
Have them make Mardi Gras masks and hats with seniors for a fun arts and crafts activity. Interacting with young kids helps make the holiday more meaningful.
Attend Mardi Gras Parades
Mardi Gras is a beloved event that is best enjoyed in person. However, not all seniors are able to attend the festivities in person. For seniors who can't attend events in person, they can still feel part of the celebration.
Some local TV stations offer live streams of the iconic Mardi Gras parades that they can tune into. Order some festive treats for them to enjoy while viewing the events on screen.
Keeping the elderly engaged in activities and crafts actually helps to improve their quality of life. Craft making is a good form of therapy for many elderly seniors, even those with physical limitations. If physical limitations are present, elderly seniors can still experience the joys of crafting by simply adjusting the activities or by using special equipment.
When elderly seniors stay active, it improves their motor skills, stimulates the brain, and enhances cognitive function. It can also be a form of socialization when done in groups. Participating in activities can help the elderly lead healthier lives. You can also read our blog on other ways to enhance the quality of life for seniors.
Mardi Gras should be fun for everyone, regardless of their age. Hiring a respite caregiver service to assist with the needs of your senior loved one can be beneficial in many ways, even on holidays.
Home Instead is a senior home care provider in Lafayette, LA, that can help keep your loved one safe while enjoying their daily activities. We will provide emotional support and motivation while assisting with duties such as cooking, household chores, doctor visits, and much more.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your elderly loved one, contact us today to discuss your options. One of our professional caregivers will work with you to design a plan that fits the needs of your senior loved one.
Let Home Instead help keep your senior loved one’s spirit young in mind and at heart because aging seniors should not be living a limiting lifestyle.
Interested in becoming a CAREGiver in Lafayette, LA, and surrounding areas? Check out our available job opportunities!
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