Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to show love and affection to family and friends. It’s also a great opportunity to spend quality time with your older adult. Bouquets of flowers, conversation hearts, plush teddy bears, X’s and O’s ... Romance and confections are what Valentine’s Day is all about, right? Well, not necessarily. While the holiday is often known as the exclusive domain of lovers, it can also serve as a reminder to express love and appreciation to all the special people in your life.

We encourage you to celebrate the day with your aging parent or loved one. Whether they still live at home or are being cared for by others, there are ways to make this holiday memorable and upbeat. 

Everyone can celebrate Valentine’s Day! Here are some easy ideas on how to make it special for that senior in your life. 

Your presence is a present. Pay your loved one a visit and carve out enough time in your day so you don’t spend it feeling rushed or harried. Brighten up their space with fresh flowers or Valentine’s cards made by yourself (or your children!). A creative, handmade gift can be more meaningful than something store-bought.

Savor the moment. It’s likely that your loved one has experienced a time or two in which they longed for the days of preparing meals for others. Ask for a favorite recipe (in advance!) and surprise them with it on Valentine’s Day. It’s been said that the sense of taste can evoke a joyful memory and conjure the comforts of home.

Do something unexpected. Has your loved one been experiencing cabin fever this winter? Plan a fun-filled outing (call it a “date” for fun!) Go to a bakery or coffee shop, see a matinee movie, or head out to the local library.

Curate a care package. Live at a distance? Sending a care package will provide warm greetings and let your loved one know they’re in your thoughts. Assemble a basket that incorporates personal interests and hobbies, savory treats, and handmade gifts and photos from family and friends. The best of all worlds.

Even seniors who have lost their spouse or partner should be celebrating Valentine’s Day – it may be a sad reminder of their loss, but it is also a great opportunity to reminisce about the love of their life and remember their happy times together.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said it best: “There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice.” There isn’t just one kind of love. Make this February 14th the first footprint of a closer walk with the senior in your life.