Springtime again! Many trees are sporting flowers and others have leaves busting out.
It’s time to gather together our woven baskets and multi-colored plastic straw hay!
For many seniors it means the grandkids are coming to search for goodies to celebrate spring on Easter Sunday, whether it’s celebrated as a religious holiday or simply happiness that the seasons are changing (and maybe a few days off from school).
We love to hide brightly colored eggs with hidden surprises inside for the children. The love to find a coin, a chocolate treat, a marshmallow peep, or the golden ticket!
Memories of Easters Past
Even adults enjoy treats, surprises, and special goodies from time to time – particularly on days that hold fond memories, such as Easter. Special treats can bring back cherished memories of childhood, some adulthood holidays, and the special people with whom they shared the day.
They might remember getting all dressed up in their finest bib and tucker or getting a new outfit – or special hat – for the special day.
Many will never forget the white patent leather Mary Jane shoes they would wear for the day and then not again until summer, at least until after Memorial Day!
Senior Easter Basket Wishes
What do you get for your senior loved ones’ Easter basket? You know them best, of course, but here are some ideas to get you thinking.
- A new hat (maybe one you pick together) or perhaps take an older hat and add embellishments onto together as a multi-generational project)
- A new piece of jewelry, such as a beaded necklace or brooch (something they could wear to church or family gatherings and show off)
- A new floral perfume (reminiscent of a bygone scent or a favorite flower in the garden would be especially nice)
- A family photo (perhaps a recent one of the grandkids or an older version with those no longer with us)
- Chocolate bunny candy or cream filled eggs (my family loved maple candy that was a special and rare treat)
- An Easter lily (this is a tradition I remember from my earliest childhood, we never went to grandma’s house without a lily!)
- A handmade card (one made by the kids with messages of endearment or glued on macaroni)
- Jelly beans (the quintessential Easter treat — who could forget or resist!)
- Coupons (ones from their favorite restaurant, local business, grocery item or handmade for unique gifts like washing the windows or polishing the silver)
- Personal items they might find useful, like hearing aid batteries, glass cleaning cloth, denture paste, a favorite skin lotion, new nail polish or lipstick, lip balm, aftershave, a backscratcher, nail file, sunscreen or any item that shows you are paying attention to what they need and those things they like.
Make the Basket Personal
The key running through the ideas above is that the contents of the basket for your senior should have personal meaning to them rather than being one of the ready-made packages we see all over the stores.
We are sure you can think of other things that might make special gifts, such as a new sweater or lightweight jacket, a book, slippers, or other items.
Think how much fun it would be to put these smaller items into a pretty new wicker basket with a big pastel bow and remind your senior of how it felt to be young waiting for the Easter bunny!
Enjoy your family moments and reminiscing about fun times in years past. After all, those memories can be the most special treats of all!