5 Fun Fall Activities for Home Health Aides and Their Patients

By Kayla Orange

The season of pumpkin spice, sweaters, and colorful leaves is finally here! One of the most rewarding aspects of working as a home health aide is bonding with your patients and spending quality time with them. Since fall season is officially upon us, there are numerous fun activities that seniors and caregivers can enjoy. We’ve compiled a list of our five favorite fall-themed activities for home health aides and their patients:

Apple Picking

Autumn is, without a doubt, the best time to pick apples. Apple picking is a suitable fall activity for all ages. It’s also a great form of exercise and an excellent way to get seniors out in the fresh air. Some apple picking farms even offer trolleys or hayrides, so if walking is difficult, you can still take your patient out to get among the trees and pick apples. However, if picking isn’t your thing, skip the hayride and grab a bag of farm-fresh apples to take home. Most farms have several varieties for sale and can help you pick some out that suit your taste.

Pumpkin Picking

Like apple picking, pumpkin picking is ideal for seniors to enjoy the autumn air and get some exercise. After you’ve chosen your pumpkins, you can make the experience feel more special by carving or decorating them at home. Carving may be too dangerous for some patients, but embellishing your pumpkins with glitter, paint, stencils, and markers is the perfect safe alternative. In addition, painting and art therapy can provide many benefits for seniors, including improved dexterity, reduced stress, and improved memory.

Decorating House Exterior and Interior

Crafting isn’t just for kids. Making crafts as an adult can be a gratifying experience, and it’s easy to accommodate any dexterity issues, depending on the activity you choose. Putting up decorations is also the perfect way to mark the change in seasons and get in the mood for the holidays. Decorating may include making a fall-themed centerpiece, planting flowers, knitting, or even setting up a scarecrow. Painting pumpkins, making a DIY wreath, and arranging haystacks near your entryway are also fun ideas to get your home ready for the holiday season.

Corn Maze

If you’d prefer a more adventurous activity, consider visiting a nearby corn maze. There are many different types of corn mazes with various levels of difficulty. Most are family-friendly and a great physical and mental workout for seniors. However, if you plan on visiting a corn maze, call before you go to ask how much walking will be involved. Some farms offer different pathways for their maze that result in a shorter or longer time spent in the cornfield. As you might expect, the shorter mazes are often recommended for elderly visitors and families with small children.

Bake Pumpkin/Apple Pie

Nothing quite says autumn like pumpkin spice or apple-flavored baked goods. Baking with your patients and just enjoying each other’s company is a fantastic way to spend a slow day. Pumpkin and apple pie are classic fall favorites, but feel free to get creative! Simply baking a batch of cookies or relaxing with a mug of hot apple cider together can help you feel closer to your patient and put you both in the holiday spirit. If you’re feeling extra motivated, go apple picking first, and then use your bounty of fresh fruit to prepare the ultimate homemade apple pie.

Fall-Themed Activities Patients Can Do at Home

If your elderly patient cannot leave their home, there are still fun activities for them to enjoy and celebrate the season. Fall-themed games are perfect for this time of year, including puzzles, crosswords, and word searches. Bingo is a popular game choice for seniors to play with their home health aides, family, and friends. To spice things up, check out our new fall-themed version of the classic game! Print out this PDF to try this fun take on traditional Bingo with your patients.

At Royal Care, we pride ourselves on offering the highest level of care for each of our patients. If you need professional home care services this fall, our team of trained, compassionate caregivers is here to help. Visit our services page for more information.