3 Activities to Celebrate Earth Day

By Mike Cooper

This year, Earth Day is this Friday, April 22. Since 1970 it is a day on which many people around the world will show support for environmental protection. There are events in many communities on that day and throughout the week. Unfortunately, many seniors are unable to get to these events; they may not have transportation or physically cannot participate. That does not mean they can’t be involved in their own way!

Here are 3 activities you can do with your senior loved one this week to help them celebrate Earth Day:

1. Plant a garden. Think herb garden, or even a couple tomato plants. An herb garden would be perfect for indoors and could easily be transplanted outside next month. If you are handy, you could build a small, raised planter box where your loved one could comfortably sit or stand to help plant the garden. Not only are the herbs and vegetables good for them, they will appreciate being involved. It doesn’t get any more ‘local’ than that!
2. Recycle. Think about all the items in your own home that you haven’t used in years. Now think about all the things in your parents’ home that they haven’t used for decades! Why wait for something to happen to them before you go through some of these items with them? At that point, the process will be a lot more stressful because you will have suffered a loss and some things might wind up in the garbage instead of being donated or sold. Pick a closet, drawer or corner of a basement so you can go through these things with them a little at a time. Let them tell a story about the item, if there is one. Then determine if the item should be given to someone in the family, donated or sold.
3. Plant a tree. This might not be something your senior loved ones can do themselves, but they can still be involved. Find out what their favorite tree is (hopefully something that grows well in your zone). If they still live in their own home, find a spot to plant a tree, even a little one, where they can see it. Maybe they could help water it from time to time. They can take pride in seeing something grow and live on for a long time and know that they were involved with it. If they live in a community where you cannot do this, maybe you can plant their tree by your house. When they come over to see you, point out the tree they that picked out – their ‘favorite’ tree.

We have a raised garden at Naperville Senior Center where our Members help to plant, water, pick and eat the wonderful vegetables we grow. We began planting April 1^st, and on April 18^th we had some impressive growth. We will transplant to the other side of the window in a couple weeks.

When they are not gardening, our Members socialize, verbalize, improvise, evangelize, visualize, exercise, have fun, and a host of other activities to provide mental and physical stimulation.

Call to action: contact us to schedule a FREE 3-hour trial at our facility so you can see what we have to offer and understand the Naperville Senior Center experience, “Home Away From Home.”