Getting the Elderly Out of the House to Enjoy the Holidays

Wisconsin's bitterly cold nights do not make stepping out an easy task for the elderly.  There are some great events to experience but special care needs to be taken to 1) keep the parents warm and comfortable and 2) limit walking and standing while still getting to enjoy the holiday events around the community.

Here is how we achieved that this season.

The first was enjoying a night holiday parade in their hometown.  With floats lit up and marching bands playing Christmas tunes, we knew this would be something they would enjoy, if only we could make it convenient.

First, we packed the car full of warmth.  We loaded camping chairs, three queen sized comforters, hats, scarves, and gloves.

I also made a thermos of hot chocolate and spiked it with butterscotch schnopps to warm them from the inside out.

Next, I brought glowsticks that I turned into necklaces just to add color to the festivities.

Lastly, we fashioned a plan to prevent a bunch of walking.  I drove within 10 feet of the parade route and dropped them off.  My partner set up the chairs and blankets and got them settled in for the show. I rejoined the group and added the hats, scarves, gloves, necklaces, then made sure the blankets were tucked in tight.  Once that was situated, I poured the hot chocolate.  Mom and Dad said they hadn't seen the night parade in at least twenty years so they appreciated what a treat it was to be warm and get to enjoy a cold winter's holiday night parade again.  Mom is up for anything but Dad is the one who needs to be sold an idea.  He has come to blindly trust anything we suggest knowing that we have their comfort and best interest in mind.  This makes for some really memorable days. These two are really gems.  I tell them all the time that they are so fun to play with!

 Another fun and easy thing to do on the cold winter nights before Christmas is to take a self-guided Griswold lights tour in your neighborhood.  Where we live there are few house around the city that are over-the-top each year with lights.  Each house is quite a site!  The variety, magnitude, and the extreme colors stimulate older (and younger!) minds.  To see everything it takes about 10 minutes at each  stop to absorb what is going on at these places. So, we load up the folks and head to these houses for a light show.  About an hour of this is all they care to see so the timing here is just right for something to do.

Finally, our Botanical Gardens puts up a light display every year that grows, changes, and evolves.  While the path is an easy walk, it is cold, it is dark, there is usually a crowd of people to navigate through, and the surface is slightly uneven or slippery, depending on if there is snow.  So, to get around this, a horse drawn carriage ride is offered for an additional $5.  Since Mom and Dad can still get around remarkably well for 86, they easily boarded the carriage for the light tour.  Though the ride makes for a really quick event (about 10 minutes to ride through the display), it means they don't have to dress as bulky as they would if they were walking.  The light show is so stimulating for the elderly and as predicted, they were delighted to experience this holiday show with us.