August 21 puts the spotlight on seniors all over the world. They’re the fast-growing population aged 65 and over. Older people account for more than one-fifth of the population in 17 countries in 2019. By the end of the century, in 2100, seniors will rise to 61% of the world’s population.
This is according to a report from the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Population Ageing 2019: Highlights.
Here in the US, our Census Bureau reported that there were 37.8 million seniors (aged 65 and over) in 2007, 50.9 million in 2017, and a projection of 80.8 million by the year 2040 – that’s twice their number back in the year 2000.
In 2017, someone reaching 65 will have an average additional life expectancy of 19.5 years.
Ah, the citizens of the world are getting older, but not forgotten.
Because we have dedicated a national day of celebration for them. A well-deserved spotlight to our seniors, who in their capable days, have made valuable contributions to our society.
They have been soldiers, entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, inventors.
But best of all, they are our mothers and fathers who raised us with personal sacrifices we will never be able to fathom.
If you are a parent yourself, you know what those sacrifices are, and one day, your children will also get to celebrate you on a bigger scale like this National Senior Citizens Day.
So how do we make the senior in our own home feel that special loving feeling?
Here are our Top 7 Ideas on how you can celebrate it:
1. Ask them to tell you stories
We’ll bet you our bottom dollar that your senior has a ton of war and life stories they are too eager to share if only someone would ask.
All it takes is to open up the door with one question. Something like – “Grandpa, how did you get assigned to fight in Korea?” ; or “Mom/Dad, how hard did you have to work to save the money for the downpayment of this house?” (Wouldn’t it be crazy to realize how cheap houses were back then?)
2. Order their favorite food from their favorite restaurant and have it delivered
Their favorite restaurant might not be open for dine-in, so why not order online and have it delivered to their door?
It would even be a far greater idea if you do a complete lunch or dinner experience.
Clear the clutter (if any) on the dining table.
Cover it with your white table cloth (yes, that one you always use during special occasions, and this day is their own special occasion).
Take out a couple of fine bone china plates, set up the rest of the silverware, and finish with tall, white, lighted candles (c’mon, you can get these from the dollar store).
Sit them down at the table like they’re in some fine dining restaurant. With Sinatra music filling the air.
Now isn’t that a really special experience? We treat a colleague, a client, or a spouse to a luxe dinner when needed. So why not our seniors on their special day?
The good part is, they’re safe at home, dining fancy – no tip needed (unless you want to tip yourself).
If your senior isn’t the fancy-schmancy type, maybe just the pure enjoyment of getting their favorite food at their doorstep is special enough.
3. Bring flowers when you visit on the 21st.
If you visit them on weekends, then surprise them with an extra early weekend visit.
On your way, grab a bundle of fresh flowers for mom, or maybe an indoor plant in a basket for dad. You should be able to find them even at your local grocery.
Nothing beats a bouquet of fresh flowers or plants in lifting someone’s spirit. It’s almost therapeutic.
Here’s what a lead researcher from the University of North Florida, Department of Public Health explained about the benefits of fresh flowers.
4. Do a video call if you can’t visit in person
There’s something about seeing the face of a loved one while you say hello.
The visual reassurance that they’re ok is worth the extra step of using a video app instead of your usual phone call.
Video apps such as:
- Google Duo (for Android users)
- Facetime (for iPhone users)
- Skype (for any computing device or smartphone)
- Facebook Messenger (most used across all platforms)
5. Mail them a nice greeting card
Remember that old-fashioned way of placing a stamp and having a mailman deliver your message in a red envelope? Before the option to go paperless was born?
Yes, take that classic route that’s timeless. A style that your senior can still relate to. That’s what the experience was in their generation.
And you can practice your handwriting too! There was cursive writing before short messaging service (SMS text) was born.
Write a longer message than just saying Happy Senior Citizen’s Day, enjoy.
Handwriting has mental health benefits for you!
According to Forbes, writing by hand is like meditation.
Those sequential movements of handwriting activate the region in your brain that’s responsible for language and memory.
In this day and age where instant and immediate (notice how your devices complete the words for you?) are the conveniences of our time, writing a longer note on your greeting card benefits you and your loved one.
Senior Citizen’s Day cards are available in online places like Etsy, CafePress, and FineArtAmerica.
Order one for your senior at home, and while you’re at it, order more and send them to all seniors you know.
Now that’s a lot of handwriting “meditation” for you.
6. Take out those old pictures and walk down memory lane
Whether you’re just visiting for a day, or you live with your senior, try to do this with them and listen to how they explain the story behind each photo.
This could also be a good impromptu test for their memory.
Do they still remember the names of the people in the photo? Who took the photo? What were they doing at that moment the photo was taken?
A good thing to do to really, really celebrate the day is to scan all those photos, file them all together in one folder, then cast them on your wide tv screen for a fun “viewing party at home.”
Now that’s what you can call merging of the old and the new technology.
7. Send them an eCard
Well, if handwriting brain exercise isn’t really your thing, you’ve got so little time to do cursive hand movements, and your senior knows how to receive an email anyway, the next best thing you can do is to send them an eCard.
Websites like holidaycardsapp.com, 123greetings.com, and someecards.com have a selection of Senior Citizen Day ecards you can pick and choose.
It’s still a good way to remind them that as your senior, you honor and acknowledge their work and sacrifices.
And if they’re wondering what these flowers, cards, food delivery, or whatever it is you picked are all about, give them a brief history of how Senior Citizens Day came about.
Here’s why we celebrate Senior Citizens Day.
1. Senior Citizens Day was officially founded by former US President Ronald Reagan.
The US Congress designated August 21, 1988 as National Senior Citizens Day. It then authorized President Ronald Reagan to issue proclamation 5847, to observe this special day with ceremonies and activities.
Credit: govinfo.gov – View original source
2. The core reason for this day is to raise awareness of the condition of our older citizens.
3. It’s an important moment to remind the government of its commitment to help seniors, among other things – alleviate hunger and homelessness.
4. For the world to appreciate the contributions they made to our society.
5. It’s a way for us to thank them for the sacrifices they made for the good of our families.
So there you have it. We hope this is helpful to you in making plans to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy the day with your senior loved one, and see you again next week!
