Valentine's Day isn't just about romance. As a caregiver, the holiday presents an opportunity to do something outside of your normal routine and make memories with your loved ones.

In this article, we discuss several fun ways to celebrate Valentine's Day with the seniors in your life. Whether you're a fan of handmade crafts and afternoon strolls or you prefer making snacks and watching movies, you're sure to find something even your pickiest family members will love.

Make Valentine’s decorations.

If the person you care for enjoys arts and crafts, making homemade decorations is a fantastic idea. All you'll need are a few supplies:

• Construction paper in various colors (think lovely pinks, reds, and purples)

• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

• Glitter

• Stickers

• Scissors

• Glue or glue sticks

• Heart-shaped stencils

• Inspiration for messages

• Messaging inspiration

Once you have everything ready, try one of these fun activities:

• Valentine's Day cards: For an easy card, simply fold a piece of construction paper in half. Then, use crayons, stickers, glitter, and glue to decorate it. Encourage creativity—there's no wrong way to do it! If your loved one enjoys writing and is able, you might even suggest they include a poem or a heartfelt message. Once they're finished, you can hang the card up or send it to a family member or friend.

• Paper hearts: This activity is as simple as it sounds. Draw hearts of various sizes on construction paper, cut them out, and hang them around your home. If you create many paper hearts, you can even string them together with yarn to make a garland. Then, hang it across the top of a window or along the mantel, just like you would Christmas lights.

• Color a Valentine-themed picture: If your loved one has dementia or another neurodegenerative condition, a calming craft like coloring might be a perfect fit. Crayola offers dozens of free coloring pages you can print at home.

Spend some quality time together

Valentine's Day can be a lonely time for many older adults, especially those who have lost a spouse. If you provide care for an elderly loved one, make sure to set aside time on Valentine's Day to do something enjoyable together. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Go for a walk in the park, enjoy a meaningful conversation, read a book aloud, or play a fun game. The goal is to engage them and help reduce feelings of isolation or sadness.

Make some holiday treats

Valentine's Day and candy often go hand-in-hand, but not everyone's diet allows for processed sugars. Still, there are plenty of delicious and healthier treats to explore, including:

• 3-ingredient "chocolate-covered cherry" greek yogurt bites

• Valentine's Day Very Berry Healthy Smoothie

• Sweetheart Fruit Salad

• Healthy Valentine's Snack Mix

• Gluten-free peanut butter blondies

If you're not in the mood for anything fancy, no worries! A simple snack tray with fruits, vegetables, and various dips is a great way to keep everyone happy between meals.

Take a walk down memory lane

If the person you care for has Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, connecting can sometimes be challenging. Tapping into their senses can help jog memories, especially on a holiday like Valentine's Day.

For example, you could look through an album of old wedding photos and ask them about the pictures. Or, you could play a favorite record they loved listening to. If you have access to old love letters or journal entries, consider reading those aloud. Try different approaches to see what creates a "spark" in your loved one's eyes.

Buy flowers and arrange a bouquet

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Celebrate love: Fun Valentine's Day ideas for your loved ones

Valentine's Day isn't just about romantic love. For caregivers, this special day offers a wonderful chance to step outside your usual routine and create cherished memories with the people you care for.

In this article, we'll explore several delightful ways to celebrate Valentine's Day with the older adults in your life. Whether you enjoy crafting, peaceful strolls, or simply cozying up with snacks and movies, you're sure to find an activity everyone will love, even the most discerning family members.

Create Valentine's Day decorations

If the person you care for enjoys arts and crafts, making homemade decorations is a fantastic idea. All you'll need are a few supplies:

• Construction paper

  in various colors (think lovely pinks, reds, and purples)

• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

• Glitter

• Stickers

• Scissors

• Glue or glue sticks

• Heart-shaped stencils

• Inspiration for messages

Once you have everything ready, try one of these fun activities:

• Valentine's Day cards.

  For an easy card, simply fold a piece of construction paper in half. Then, use crayons, stickers, glitter, and glue to decorate it. Encourage creativity—there's no wrong way to do it! If your loved one enjoys writing and is able, you might even suggest they include a poem or a heartfelt message. Once they're finished, you can hang the card up or send it to a family member or friend.

• Paper hearts.

  This activity is as simple as it sounds. Draw hearts of various sizes on construction paper, cut them out, and hang them around your home. If you create many paper hearts, you can even string them together with yarn to make a garland. Then, hang it across the top of a window or along the mantel, just like you would Christmas lights.

• Color a Valentine-themed picture.

  If your loved one has dementia or another neurodegenerative condition, a calming craft like coloring might be a perfect fit. Crayola offers dozens of free coloring pages you can print at home.

Spend some quality time together

Valentine's Day can be a lonely time for many older adults, especially those who have lost a spouse. If you provide care for an elderly loved one, make sure to set aside time on Valentine's Day to do something enjoyable together. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Go for a walk in the park, enjoy a meaningful conversation, read a book aloud, or play a fun game. The goal is to engage them and help reduce feelings of isolation or sadness.

Make some holiday treats

Valentine's Day and candy often go hand-in-hand, but not everyone's diet allows for processed sugars. Still, there are plenty of delicious and healthier treats to explore, including:

• 3-ingredient "chocolate-covered cherry" Greek yogurt bites

• Valentine's Day very berry healthy smoothie

• Sweetheart fruit salad

• Healthy Valentine's snack mix

• Gluten-free peanut butter blondies

If you're not in the mood for anything fancy, no worries! A simple snack tray with fruits, vegetables, and various dips is a great way to keep everyone happy between meals.

Take a walk down memory lane

If the person you care for has Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, connecting can sometimes be challenging. Tapping into their senses can help jog memories, especially on a holiday like Valentine's Day.

For example, you could look through an album of old wedding photos and ask them about the pictures. Or, you could play a favorite record they loved listening to. If you have access to old love letters or journal entries, consider reading those aloud. Try different approaches to see what creates a "spark" in your loved one's eyes.

Buy flowers and arrange a bouquet

If your loved one enjoys gardening, wish them a Happy Valentine's Day by crafting your own bouquet together. Visit a local flower shop or grocery store, purchase a selection of blooms, and bring them home. Lay everything out on the table and work together to create a stunning, hand-crafted arrangement. This activity might be a bit more expensive than some others on this list, but it's absolutely worth the investment for the joy it brings.

Take a Valentine Day stroll

The month of February is often cold and dark, but if the weather permits, set aside some time on Valentine's Day to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.

Visit a local nature preserve and soak in some sunshine, or simply stroll around your neighborhood. It's a fun activity that gets your loved one out of the house. Plus, it can get their blood pumping and may even improve their attention span and memory.

Watch a romantic movie

If the person you care for experiences mobility issues, crafts, making a bouquet, or getting outside might not be an option. That's perfectly fine! You can still celebrate the holiday by enjoying some entertainment together. There are hundreds of romances and romantic comedies to choose from, but some timeless classics include:

• The Notebook

• When Harry Met Sally

• Grease

• The Wedding Planner

• My Big Fat Greek Wedding

• Singing in the Rain

• Breakfast at Tiffany's

• Sleepless in Seattle

These are just a few suggestions for spending quality time with the older adults in your life this Valentine's Day. Whatever you decide to do, we hope you have a wonderful time and create many lasting memories.

From all of us at Carewell, happy Valentine's Day!