Care Home Activities For Father’s Day

Posted by Thomas Bynde on June 7, 2019

Image credit: giftstour.com

This year’s Father’s Day falls on the 16th of June, a worldwide celebration of the men that have embraced fatherhood in their lives, whether it be dads, stepdads, grandads, or guardians. Every dad deserves some appreciation, and fathers currently residing in care homes are no exception. No matter what your situation is, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Father’s Day this year.

The Great Outdoors

Most people who live in care homes spend most of their days inside, so depending on your father’s mobility, a day trip out is a perfect way to spend the day.

Think about what he might enjoy doing and plan some fun and manageable activities for the both of you. If your dad is a wheelchair user, make sure wherever you’re taking him is wheelchair accessible, such as a park with even terrain or somewhere with working lifts.

If your dad lives with Dementia or Alzheimer’s, a good idea would be to take him somewhere nostalgic, like the street he grew up on or another location from the past which he might remember.

A museum trip would also be an ideal option for a day out, as many are free to enter or offer concessions for over-60s and offer great levels of mental stimulation.

Visiting In

If your father is unable to leave his care home for the day, why not take Father’s Day to him? A homemade present means a lot, so try baking a cake or crafting a card to show your appreciation for your dad. Simply sitting down and chatting to your father can mean a great deal to him and it’s a happy way to reminisce and look back over your memories together

Another homemade gift idea could be a memory book, which is particularly ideal if your dad has dementia and struggles to recall events. Gather your family and friends around and ask them if they could contribute something to put in the book, such as a photo or a written recollection. Spending Father’s Day reading through the book together is a nostalgic and calming way to spend the day and it can also help to improve your dad’s cognitive skills by remembering things.

For this purpose, we stock a wide range of reminiscence aids and activities for stimulation, specially designed for those with Dementia or currently living in a care home.

If your father has grandchildren, bring them along to the care home to spend the day with him. Intergenerational activities can massively help conversational skills for older people and decrease the risk of loneliness, whilst encouraging quality time with grandchildren. Being in the company of family is a perfect gift for Father’s Day and will help your father realise how loved and appreciated he is.