After a few years of being unable to see our loved ones, many families are making up for lost time by hosting family reunions. They are the perfect opportunity to bring generations under one roof, look back at the memories shared, and create new ones.
Planning a family reunion is challenging for anyone, but as an older adult, these challenges are more prevalent. Whether you are planning on hosting your closest family members or your entire extended family, following these tips for hosting a family reunion for seniors will help you be able to enjoy the festivities.
Don’t leave anything to the last minute
Organizing a family reunion can be daunting, so it’s best to start early. First, determine how many guests you’ll invite to gauge the time you’ll need. A smaller event may only need two or three months of planning, but for larger gatherings, starting months in advance is smart.
Don’t hesitate to ask nearby loved ones for help with planning, especially if technology or errands are a challenge. The amount of assistance needed will vary depending on whether you’re hosting at home or another venue like a park.
Send a questionnaire to your family
Once you’ve determined a location and a rough date for your family gathering, consider sending a questionnaire to your family. There is no way you can please everyone, but having everyone fill out a short survey will help build an event that works for the largest amount of people. A few great things to include are:
- A list of three dates to choose from
- Whether someone has any food allergies
- Ideas for reunion events
You can send a paper invite along with the questionnaire, but these days, filling out a questionnaire is easy online. Collect everyone’s email and send them the questions via a Google Form. The process of using this service is quite simple. However, if you have any questions, a loved one should be able to help.
Collect the family story
Don’t forget to highlight your family history in your family reunion planning. Talk with different relatives to gather details about your family’s past, including where you came from and what everyone is up to now. Encourage family members to bring old photos to display for reminiscing. You could make it interactive by placing paper under photos for guests to name the people in them or creating a slideshow.
Another fun family reunion idea is to have a large family tree poster where everyone can fill in their details, showing how the family has grown and where it’s headed.
Create activities, but don’t forget to budget in downtime
With family members of all ages attending, plan activities for everyone. Have outdoor games for kids, trivia for others, and maybe even a golf event for fans of the sport. Tailor the activities to your reunion location, and ask your family for input on what they’d enjoy.
However, a packed schedule can be tiring, especially for older members of the family. Be sure to include some downtime so everyone can relax and recharge during the reunion.
Have a backup plan
While you and your loved ones likely want to spend your time together outdoors, the weather is not always what you want it to be. When the event approaches, you may be disappointed to see it is going to be rainy all weekend, or maybe colder than you expected. Make sure you have a plan B just in case.
If your home is big enough to accommodate your relatives, move some of the games and activities indoors. If you were planning on renting out a park, see if there is a pavilion you can hunker down before you book anything. In doing so, you won’t have to sacrifice anything because of the weather!
For help at home, consider home care
Your loved ones can help ensure that the event moves as smoothly as possible, but when all is said and done, who is going to support you? As you age, the activities of daily living often grow far more laborious than they once were. Cooking for yourself, doing laundry, and even dressing yourself might be difficult due to physical conditions. However, you don’t have to suffer in silence—a caregiver can help.
At Home Care Powered by AUAF, it is our pleasure to provide caregivers the support they need to age in place. Our dedicated staff offers compassionate help with medication reminders, light housekeeping, personal care, and so much more. To learn more about how our staff can support you, give us a call at 773-274-9262.
