![\"Valentine's](\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2016\/02\/Valentines-Crafts-for-Seniors-in-Assisted-Living-350x293.png\")
<\/h1>\n<\/h1>\nValentine\u2019s Day is about celebrating love and friendship, and it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to get seniors out and about, connected, and having fun together. A very real danger to seniors is loneliness and depression<\/a><\/strong>, especially during the colder months. These Valentine\u2019s Day crafts and activities are ideal for seniors in assisted living facilities looking for a fun way to commemorate Valentine\u2019s Day with their neighbors.<\/span><\/p>\n Valentine\u2019s Day is the perfect time to share happy emotions and best wishes. While some seniors might be feeling lonely at this time of the year, connecting with other people can help reduce negative feelings. A great way to do just that is to create homemade cards for servicemen and women. Gather construction paper, glue sticks, magazine scraps, and other decorative craft items and let seniors create and sign cards for deployed servicemen. If you need a less intensive activity, consider purchasing premade cards in bulk and letting seniors simply sign and write a note. Organizations like <\/span>Hugs for Soldiers<\/strong> make it easy to get the completed cards into the hands of members of the armed services far from home on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/span><\/p>\n Recent research has shown that creating an environment reminiscent of a senior\u2019s past<\/a><\/strong> can help encourage conversations, memories, and positive emotions. Why not give your Valentine\u2019s Day celebration a vintage theme and take residents back in time to very happy memories? Set the tone with some music from the era, and research some old-fashioned favorites for snacks, like petit fours, macaroons, and crustless finger sandwiches. Decorate with paper doilies and perhaps even borrow a nicer old-fashioned serving set. Encourage residents to wear a festive hat, or red clothing to help celebrate.<\/span><\/p>\n Now that the Christmas decorations have come down, you have a blank slate for decorating your facility\u2019s shared areas, hallways, and residents\u2019 doors. Gather up your interested seniors, put out some Valentine\u2019s Day cookies, and let the crafting begin. The end result not only makes your facility look festive, but gives the participants a sense of pride every time they pass by their handmade decorations. Ideas include:<\/span><\/p>\n Seniors may be on limited budgets or unable to easily go out and shop for gifts. Give them the means to make small tokens for their loved ones or friends this Valentine\u2019s Day. For example, small clean rocks can be painted for pocket-sized <\/span>love rocks<\/a><\/strong> keepsakes or paperweights. Seniors may also enjoy making and giving the very useful gift of a <\/span>Valentine\u2019s Day bookmark<\/a><\/strong>, customizing it with small pieces of fabric and ribbon. A collection of leftover buttons make the perfect elements to create a <\/span>button heart<\/a><\/strong>, glued to a small square of fabric, cardboard, or wood. With a little bit or preparation and some hands-on time, they can create a precious gift for the ones they love.<\/span><\/p>\n From childhood all the way on up to our older years, Valentine\u2019s Day cards are one of the most enduring of holiday traditions. This year, help your residents do something a little different with their Valentine\u2019s Day cards. Any kids, grandkids, or other loved ones they want to write to will get a kick out of these <\/span>pop-up cards. \u00a0<\/span>1. Homemade Cards for Servicemen<\/h2>\n
2. Vintage Valentine\u2019s Tea Party<\/h2>\n
3. Deck the Halls<\/h2>\n
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4. Gifts for Others<\/h2>\n
5. Pop-up Cards<\/h2>\n
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