The crisp air, vibrant colors, and cozy feelings of fall make it a perfect time to connect with the older adults in your life. But as the weather cools down, finding engaging indoor and outdoor activities that are both safe and joyful can be a challenge.
We’ve curated five simple, festive, and inclusive activities designed to spark happy memories, stimulate the senses, and celebrate the unique charm of the autumn season with your loved one. From creative crafts to sensory delights, these ideas will help you make the most of this special time of year together.
Fall is Here, and the Leaves are Changing Color
It’s refreshing to feel the crisp fall air and watch the leaves change color.
To celebrate the new season, we’ve rounded up six festive activity ideas that you can enjoy with your older adult.
They’re all simple, inexpensive, and fun!
6 Festive Fall Activities For Seniors
1. Enjoy Fall-Themed Coloring Pages
Coloring is an activity that everyone can enjoy, from the very young to the very old, as a solo activity or with others.
As a bonus, psychologists note that coloring has stress-busting abilities similar to those of meditation.
There are hundreds of free, printable, fall-themed coloring pages available online.
Here are some of our favorites:
- 68 cozy fall coloring pages with foliage, harvests, animals, pumpkins, pies, mandalas, cozy scenes, and even scarecrows.
- 25 fun and engaging coloring pages celebrating the fall season with forest scenes, pumpkins, pies, turkeys, and more.
- 30 festive fall images with autumn leaves, pumpkins, apples, sweaters, owls, scarecrows, and more.
- A variety of fun fall scenes, including fall scenes and animals, trees/leaves, pumpkins/squash, and Halloween-themed pages.
- 24 fun Halloween designs, including a few classic Disney characters.
2. Make Holiday Decorations
Creating and displaying fun decorations is a great way to mark the change of seasons and get into the mood for fall holidays.
It’s also a good opportunity to display some of those finished coloring pages!
Simple and fun DIY ideas:
- Fall leaf garland – bring some gorgeous autumn color inside with these leaf templates or go outside to collect fallen leaves
- Autumn gratitude tree – use this free printable to create a decorative tree that reminds you of things you’re grateful for
- Clove-studded orange pomanders – delicious-smelling and beautiful
- Ribboned pumpkins – a few ribbons transform pumpkins into lovely decor
VIDEO: Fall Activities for Seniors and Their Loved Ones
3. Work on a Fall-Themed Jigsaw Puzzle
Sitting at the table with a warm beverage and a festive puzzle is a great way to celebrate the season.
Here are some of our favorites:
- Birdhouse – 35-piece sequenced puzzle with color-coded pieces, brightly colored birds around a birdhouse, designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Mystic Hour – 100-piece puzzle, a cozy cabin in the woods at sunrise
- Happy Hollow – 300 large-piece puzzle, festive fall scene with friendly jack o’lanterns, a hayride tractor, scarecrow, black cat, and more
- Birds On A Flowering Branch – 300 large-piece puzzle, five beautiful birds on a lovely branch covered with flowers
- Signal Point – 500-piece puzzle, a quaint lighthouse, and a charming seaside cottage
4. Prepare Festive Homemade Baked Goods
Baking, mixing, and assembly are fun activities that many older adults will enjoy.
Mmmm! Try these delicious and easy-to-make treats:
- Baked apple roses – easy to make, and they genuinely look like gorgeous roses
- Baked apples with oatmeal streusel topping – simple, healthy, and delicious
- No-bake pumpkin cheesecake – cheesecake, pumpkin, no baking…what could be better?
- Soft glazed pumpkin sugar cookies – add some pumpkin spice to a classic cookie
5. Prepare for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters
If you’re planning to hand out treats to children in the family or neighborhood, an older adult might enjoy helping with the preparations.
For a calmer Halloween experience (which may be more suitable for someone with dementia), prepare individual treat bags in advance and place them on the porch so trick-or-treaters can help themselves.
Some ideas:
- Prepare fun little pumpkin pouch goody bags
- Use the completed coloring sheets and other decorations to make the front door more festive
- Someone with dementia might enjoy sorting a mixed bag of candy into different containers. It’s a great no-fail activity that helps them feel included – even if you don’t really need the candy to be sorted.
6. Get Outside and Enjoy the Changing Scenery
Fall is an excellent time to enjoy nature with your older adult.
Bundle up and breathe the fresh air, admire the beautiful colors on display, and hear the crunch of fallen leaves as you walk.
Adapt activities to suit different mobility levels:
- Open a window to smell the fresh air and take in the scenery
- Relax in the backyard or on the porch
- Walk to the mailbox and back
- Stroll a block or two in the neighborhood
- Walk through a local park
Those are our ideas, but surely you have some of your own fall traditions. Please share them below in the comments!
Recommended for you:
- Jigsaw Puzzles for Seniors at All Ability Levels
- Audio Books for Seniors Entertain and Engage
- 10 Fun, No-Fail Activities for People with Dementia
Â
This article contains some affiliate links. If you buy through an affiliate link on our site, we may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. For more information, see How We Make Money.
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
