Summer is on its way out, and many welcome fall. It’s all about cooler days and nights, changing colors, bringing in the harvest, and many would say football!

What types of activities can you do in September with an elder?

Be on the Go

It’s still summer so continue to take those small trips while you can. There are lots of places to take Grandma and Grandpa or another elder while the weather is still nice. When the leaves start to change, take a trip to see the changing colors of the trees. September is a spectacular time of year for sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and the touch of outdoor life. Don’t miss it!

Play Games

If the cooler weather keeps us indoors there are always games to play. Jigsaw puzzles, board games, and paper and pencil games are always interesting and popular. Autumn printable games are available in the Workshop!

Watch Football

For a senior that loves football, he or she can get their fill. Check out their favorite team and players and schedule some football game watching and some football parties. Get a schedule or write the dates, times, and TV channels on a calendar. If you are long distance, discuss games and teams over the phone. If your senior is an avid fan, purchase team or athlete’s jerseys, hats, or other team spirit items to wear on game day.

Printable Activities for Senior Groups

We’ve put a bundle of activities together for senior groups including Reminiscing activities, Sensory Story Activity, Games, Journal Prompts, Poetry Writing, Crafts, and Card Making. Check it out here in the Caregivers Workshop.

Women’s Friendship Month

Help seniors to make a friend or celebrate a good friend in honor of Women’s Friendship Month. Attend a senior center luncheon, talk to neighbors, join a church group, or re-connect with old friends by helping her make a phone call or send a friendship greeting card. Older parents may start to need help being social with those they once knew or making new friends.

If you work in a care center, fostering friendships during activities can be as easy as sitting seniors beside others, visiting a senior with another senior, or connecting them through common interests such as those who like to crochet. Continued socialization is so important.

You may also read about women’s friendships in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Woman to Woman: Women Sharing Their Stories of Hope, Humor, and Inspiration.”  These books with inspirational short stories have been used in nursing homes and by me reading to groups of seniors. They are wonderful for small discussions.

Grandparents Day

Honor Grandma and Grandpa or another elder on Grandparents Day on Sunday September 9th. See Celebrate Grandparents! for activity ideas. Also see Kids Gifts for Grandparents as well as a list of other intergenerational activities under our Grand Activities page. Check out our Pen Pal Kit for kids and Grandparents!

Another idea is to make Coupons for Grandparents or another senior providing them with a special and unique gift from a child.

Labor Day

Enjoy a barbecue or other get-together and reminisce about their work life.

Autumn Begins

Help a loved one decorate their home with seasonal decorations. Seeing seasonal decorations helps to keep them oriented to the time of year and brightens up a room. See this post on Decorating Nature’s Way.

For Garden Lovers

For the garden lover, here are two activities to check out to preserve and remember some of summer’s beauty. Collecting and pressing flowers and Crafts from Pressed Flowers.

Go to the Library

September is Library Card Sign-up month. Sign-up a Senior Loved One. There is so much more than books at the library now. There’s everything from computers, to books, to audio books, classes, and more!

Reminisce

For families who love to reminisce, print a list of questions about Autumn Reminiscing, Reminiscing About Farming and Country Ways of Life, as well as Reminiscing About Canning! Get a journal and write these things down. Get into a habit of reminiscing with an elder and preserve their memories! Check out the Autumn Reminiscing Cards in the Caregivers Workshop. These are fun for reminiscing with a group or one on one. 

Fall Hat month

September is Fall Hat Month so dig those hats out of the closet and wear them! Or make a fall hat by decorating it with fall flowers, scarves or ribbon. You can also decorate a fall garden hat.

Pin this post or “September Activities in Season for Elders” Image ↓ to your Pinterest Board for future ideas!