Few things are more ageless and enduring than love. Love knows no age or stage, and it’s important to cherish the love in your life every year, even your golden years! Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate love, whether it’s romantic love (old or new), friendship, or love of family members. Because the years after your retirement can be lonely ones, it’s more important now than ever to prioritize relationships and make sure the people you love know you love them. Here are some Valentine’s Day ideas for seniors to celebrate whoever you love.
The Beauty of Love in Your Golden Years
Nothing warms the heart quite like love that stands the test of time. Long-term relationships can be some of the most special and unique relationships in the world. You have the unique depth of experience and perspective that young relationships lack, years of memories, and so many shared experiences–travel, holidays, children, jobs, and homes, to name just a few. If your love has spanned decades, you can celebrate an incredible accomplishment. In fact, fewer than 1% of relationships last longer than 20 years.
If you are not in this tiny minority fortunate enough to celebrate a decades-long relationship, do not despair. You are in good company! Perhaps you have a new romantic relationship to celebrate. It’s never too late for new love to blossom. If not, there are so many types of love beyond romantic love. The beauty of love in your golden years is all the relationships you’ve had throughout your life, including friendships, children, and other family members. You can celebrate whatever type of love your life includes at this stage, including love for yourself and the person you are today. Read on to find Valentine’s Day ideas for seniors to celebrate romantic relationships, as well as platonic ones with friends, family members, other loved ones, or even just some intentional time alone.
Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Romantic Love for Seniors
Are you in a new or long-term romantic relationship? Here are some classic and meaningful ways you can celebrate your love in your later years.
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Memory Lane
If you have been together for a long time, enjoy an evening of reminiscing by taking a walk down memory lane. Look at old photos, scrapbooks, or photo albums, watch old movies, get out your wedding dress, or explore other mementos of your time together. Put on some romantic music and some delicious snacks and beverages of choice, and enjoy celebrating the years you’ve had together.
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Bucket List Adventure:
Whether your relationship is old or new, check something off your “bucket list”! If finances, health, and circumstances allow, travel to that place you always wanted to go, or take that grand adventure. For some tamer but still exciting options, take cooking or dancing classes, or start learning a new language or new hobby. What have you always wanted to do? Now’s the time to do it!
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Make a Time Capsule:
Create a time capsule of your love, no matter what stage you’re in. Include photos, love letters, movie ticket stubs, plane tickets from trips you’ve been on, and other mementos you can look back on next year.
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Write your love story.
This is an especially great option for couples with children. Wouldn’t you love to read your parents’ love story? Give your children (or nieces or nephews) this gift. Take Valentine’s Day to write down when, where, and how you met, what made you fall in love, how your relationship began, and how it has progressed.
Celebrating Friendship & Platonic Love for Seniors
If you are not in a romantic relationship, or won’t be able to celebrate it this year, you can still celebrate Valentine’s Day! Celebrate your friendships, the love you have for family members, and even the love you have for yourself. Here are some easy ways to celebrate non-romantic love for seniors this Valentine’s Day.
Friendship Valentine’s Day Ideas for Seniors
Celebrate love with your closest friends!
- Go on an outing, to dinner, to a movie, to a concert or theater performance. If being at home alone on Valentine’s Day makes you sad, spend it out with friends instead! You can laugh with your group of friends at a local restaurant or venue and enjoy the love you have for each other.
- Our senior ladies might enjoy hosting a “Galentine’s” day party with your girlfriends! Waffles are customary, but you can serve hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, or whatever you like and have some great girl talk.
- Have a craft night and make a craft together. You could do something Valentine’s Day themed, or choose something else, like a crochet night, scrapbooking party, or whatever your friends might enjoy.
- Have a “favorite things” party where each person brings enough of one of their favorite things for all guests. This could be their favorite lip balm, favorite cookie, favorite beverage–the sky’s the limit! You could also do this White Elephant style, where each person brings one of their favorite things as a wrapped gift, and everyone takes turns choosing gifts.
Solo Valentine’s Day Ideas for Seniors
If you prefer to celebrate alone this year, or are unable to celebrate with others due to illness, travel challenges, or other issues, you can still celebrate everything that makes you amazing. These are some great alone-but-not-lonely ways to enjoy the holiday and take care of yourself.
- Have a spa day! You could go to a spa, but you can also give yourself an at-home spa day with a bubble bath, chocolates, favorite movies and cozy blankets, or whatever else makes you feel relaxed and pampered.
- Lose yourself in service by volunteering this Valentine’s day. Helping the less fortunate or those in need can help you remember everything you have, instead of focusing on what you lack. We have some great volunteer ideas for seniors here.
- If weather and health permit, get moving outdoors. Take a nature walk or hike, or even just a stroll around the neighborhood. If it’s too cold to go out, a trip to your local indoor pool might give you a way to get some movement in.
- Take a Valentine’s Day trip! If you are able-bodied and comfortable traveling solo, this might be a great time to take yourself on an adventure. You could visit a theme park or destination, but you could also just take a drive to a nearby town you haven’t visited before. Getting out and seeing new things could be just what you need to remember how great your own company can be.
Valentine’s Day Ideas for Seniors
As you can see, there are tons of ways to celebrate love in your golden years this Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s a romantic night in with your long-term partner, or a solo hike, you can enjoy love and have a fun holiday no matter your current situation.
Don’t want to plan your own Valentine’s Day celebration? It can be hard to think of Valentine’s Day ideas for seniors. Did you know that Stellar Living senior living communities host 40-50 on- and off-site activities every month? Valentine’s Day is no exception, and you’ll find plenty of fun things to do at any Stellar community–no planning or extra expenses necessary! Find a community near you and take a tour today.
