Top 5 Fall Activities for Seniors

#1: Go Apple Picking

The poet John Keats called autumn the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.” Make the most of the season’s fruitfulness with a trip to an apple orchard. In addition to picking a peck — or a bushel — of apples, you can dive into farm life with outdoor activities like wagon rides, an apple tree maze and a petting farm. After a day of outdoor autumn fun, it’s time to make something from your apple harvest. In addition to the traditional apple pie, try baking apple roses or making homemade applesauce.

#2: Visit Your Local Pumpkin Patch

What’s autumn without pumpkins? This iconic American fruit can be used in soup, pie … or lattes. It also serves as the quintessential autumn décor. Like your local apple orchard, a pumpkin farm makes for a great outing for the whole family, with corn mazes, hayrides and plenty of pumpkins. Once you get your hand-picked pumpkins home, the fun has just begun. Use them to create a colorful centerpiece and other fall decorations. Grab your paints and create painted pumpkin masterpieces. Or buy pumpkin-decorating face stickers for a simple way to make ghoulish — or silly — jack-o-lanterns.

If your pumpkins give you a hankering for a pumpkin treat, don’t worry — you don’t have to carve up your treasures from the pumpkin patch. It’s as easy as pie to transform a can of pumpkin purée into creamy pumpkin soup, an easy pumpkin cake or the classic pumpkin pie.

#3: Enjoy the Fall Colors

Mild temperatures and beautiful fall foliage make this a wonderful time of year to get outside and enjoy nature’s beauty. Look for easy hiking trails or scenic drives in your area. Try timing your excursions so you can enjoy the fall colors at their showiest. In Georgia, late October and early November are often peak season for autumn color, but much depends on weather. Warm, sunny days and cool,  but not freezing, nights are when the fall colors are at their best.

#4: Cheer on Your Home Team

Autumn is synonymous with football season. Whether you’re cheering on your alma mater or your favorite professional team, tailgating is a time-honored tradition for football fans. But you don’t have to be at the stadium to have a tailgating party. You can just as easily — and perhaps more comfortably — enjoy the game with friends and family in your home. Invite your fellow football fans over, have everyone bring a dish to share, fill a cooler with beverages for all ages, light the grill and get ready to cheer. Your football team will provide the entertainment, but you can add to the fun with games like football bingo. Have team-themed temporary tattoos, beads, and face paints on hand to encourage guests to show their team spirit.

#5: Practice Gratitude

Research suggests that gratitude offers a host of benefits from improved immunity to more joy and less loneliness. Of course, autumn is the traditional time to give thanks and count blessings. Try keeping a gratitude journal, recording ordinary daily events that have made you feel grateful. Write a letter or email to someone you’re thankful for. Or make a gratitude tree, a colorful and decorative way to celebrate the good things in your life.

So Much to Celebrate at Oaks Senior Living

Oaks Senior Living gives you the perfect home base for participating in fall activities for seniors. Whether you’re enjoying the freedom and flexibility of a maintenance-free lifestyle in our independent living cottages, or the extra support of our assisted living and memory care communities, there are many opportunities to make the most of fall’s bounty. In fact, here you’ll find amenities and services that make you thankful year-round. Contact us to find out more about our independent living communities — Oaks at Eagles Landing and Oaks at Gracemont — or to schedule a visit.