As senior citizens age, many of them become hesitant to celebrate their birthday. Most senior citizens will tell their families not to bother doing anything for them. Because they have celebrated decades worth of birthdays, they may’t feel as though they dont need to celebrate another one. While it is important to respect your loved one, many senior citizens do want some sort of celebration. It is important to show them that you love and care about them even if they don’t want a huge party. As people age they tend to feel less significant in the lives of their friends and family. Use their birthday as a way to reinforce the bonds you have.
Keep it simple
Many seniors’ citizens will express that they don’t want to celebrate their birthday because they just don’t want a large production. If you are going to help the senior citizen in your life celebrate their birthday, keep it simple and you will make them happy. If you create a big “to-do” this will likely give your senior stress and anxiety. Most seniors will appreciate something small and thoughtful. Purchase gifts that they could genuinely benefit from, put up simple decorations, and get a few of their favorite foods.
Be sure to include them
If a senior has been giving you a lot of excuses expressing that they don’t want a birthday party, consider just asking them what they do want. You might be surprised by their answer when they are given the opportunity to explain themselves. Some seniors might just want to celebrate with a few loved ones and not consider it a “party,” others might prefer to go out to dinner, and some might just want a cake. It is important to know what they want instead of assuming, this will eliminate a lot of “guesswork”.
Limit the Guest List
Most older people don’t have a ton of friends, and while inviting people just to fill the party out may seem like a good idea- it’s best to keep it small. Seniors often become stressed in social settings and if too many people are in attendance, they aren’t going to feel like the birthday party is for them at all. Create an intimate guest list consisting of people who truly matter to them- friends, children, and grandchildren. If they have friends that are unable to drive but would want to attend, make arrangements to pick them up for a special surprise.
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