When President Ronald Reagan signed the proclamation designating August 21 as National Senior Citizens Day in 1988, he did so in the hopes that it would encourage our nation's communities to give older citizens the love, respect and support they need to live life to the fullest.
At Bethesda Gardens, we've made it our mission to do exactly that every day, but in order to help our residents make this holiday special we've, created a list of four ways to celebrate this year.
Individuals who wish to participate in National Senior Citizens Day are often encouraged to volunteer in a nursing home or visit their older family members. Seniors can return this kindness by volunteering in youth programs or spending the day with their grandchildren.
By offering to serve as a little league coach, Sunday school teacher or mentor, seniors can share their knowledge with the youth in their lives and help encourage them as they grow.
A good way our residents can celebrate their long lives is to record their memories. There isn't a single right way to do this, which makes each project as unique as the person creating it. A few of the things that seniors may consider giving a try include:
Drawing a time line of key events in their life on a chalkboard and using it to decorate their living space
Fashioning a photo collage of favorite memories over the years, such as their graduation, wedding, holidays and family vacations
Painting their family tree onto a plaque
Writing down memories from their childhood in a journal to share with their grandchildren
Spending the day with others is a great way for seniors to create new memories.
By taking advantage of the catering options in the private dining room or the transportation services available to our residents, seniors can choose to enjoy a meal with their family or go on an outing with friends from around our assisted living community.
Many of the nearby points of interest in Fort Worth provide senior discounts year-round such as the zoo, SeaQuest aquarium and AMC Hulen 10 movie theater. These reduced fares can help our residents maximize their budget, and individuals can contact their favorite destinations ahead of time to see if they are planning special events or pricing plans in honor of National Senior Citizens Day.
If our residents prefer to spend the day at home, they can invite their friends over for a night of watching movies or playing board games.
Seniors who have a long-held dream can use the holiday as an opportunity to begin pursuing it. Many popular choices, such as learning a new language or how to play an instrument, are a great way to keep the mind active. By asking around among their neighbors, seniors may find others who are skilled in their desired ability or who share the same wish and can join them during lessons.
If a health condition makes a goal of traveling difficult to accomplish, seniors can consider alternative ways to chase their dreams such as visiting themed restaurants and locations such as the Fort Worth Japanese Garden or the European-styled Bass Performance Hall.
