Throwing A Birthday Party For Your Senior In Hospice
Roughly 1.6 million people receive hospice care each year in the US, Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals. And all those patients have one thing in common: birthdays!
If you have an elderly relative in hospice with a birthday coming up, rest assured it can be joyous and special occasion. Many care facilities throw a party every month to celebrate resident birthdays, but you can also choose to throw an individual party for your loved one. Here are some points to keep in mind when planning a party for your elderly relative in care.
Guest list
When it comes to choosing the guest list, consider what your relative would be most comfortable with. Perhaps they’d prefer a quiet affair with close family. Alternatively, you can invite a bigger number of friends and family, as well as any friends in the hospice. If your senior isn’t comfortable staying up in the evenings, schedule the party for morning or afternoon. Also consider travel arrangements older guests may have to make; they may feel safer traveling to and from the party in daytime hours.
Choose a theme
A theme ties the whole party together from the food to the music. When choosing the theme consider your relative’s hobbies or interests. If they’re a football fan, use football as a theme. You can then choose decorations — centerpieces, streamers, tablecloths and cupcakes — in the same style. If they’ve spent time overseas in France, for example, design a French-themed party complete with croissants, decorative Eiffel towers, and mini French flags. Or, you can keep it simple and decorate the room with family photos — your senior will love looking back on the happy memories.
The menu
Every birthday party needs a cake. If you’re up for it, you can bake a cake as a meaningful way to honor your favorite senior. Alternatively, order a cake from a caterer with a personalized “happy birthday” message. As for other food, a buffet is easy to organize, but keep it simple to avoid overwhelming with options. Some options include Caprese salad, spinach and artichoke stuffed mushrooms, and savory pancake bites. If your party coincides with lunch or dinner, however, you may want to provide an actual meal. For example, serve roast salmon as a centerpiece along with salad and potatoes.
Capture the moment
Be sure to have a camera on hand to capture the event. Designate a party photographer (a family member or a helpful member of staff), so you can devote your attention to your relative without worrying about getting enough photos. Capturing special moments on film is a good idea, too. For example, film your senior opening presents, blowing out the candles on the cake, or even simply chatting with the family. These moments are special and you’ll love having them to re-watch in years to come.
Celebrating the birthday of an elderly relative in care is bound to be different to how it used to be. However, it’s important to celebrate your senior as he or she is now and throw a lovely party they’re able to enjoy. With these tips, you’ll be all set to pull off a memorable event.
