What to Do on Mother's Day for Moms in Nursing Homes

Mother's Day is a day to honor our moms for all they have done for us. They appreciate flowers, gifts, and being taken out to dinner, but what they really treasure the most is just spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Moms in nursing homes especially look forward to this special day. This is a day that she can leave the feelings of loneliness and isolation behind, and just be pampered by her family. Make it a Mother's Day outing she'll cherish forever.

Pick an activity that suits mom's personality. If your mom enjoys the outdoors, take a picnic lunch to a lake and go boating. The food doesn't have to be fancy. Simple sandwiches, cookies, and fresh fruit cubes all taste better when eaten out in the fresh air. If you want to be especially festive, bring along a bottle of wine for lunch.

Being on a boat gives mom a chance to view the beautiful scenery and get in some interesting people watching. It's also a chance for the family to share some quality time together. Bring a simple game like Yahtzee, crossword puzzle books, or go through the family photo album. Mom will enjoy watching the grandchildren frolicking in the water.

Take mom out to brunch and give her a break from the bland nursing home diet. Special Mother's Day brunches are held in almost every city. Choose from the all you can eat variety or order off the menu. Luscious French toast, eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce, and waffles adorned with strawberries and whipped cream offer something for every taste. Some restaurants even play soft music or give flowers to all the mothers.

If mom likes animals, take her on a Mother's Day outing to the zoo. Most zoos have trams that keep you from getting too tired from all the walking. Some even feature special Mother's Day prices and discounts on meals. Mom will get to see every kind of animal you can think of, from cuddly koalas and pandas, to magnificent lions and tigers. Take advantage of the many animal shows and behind the scenes training sessions.

For a very low-key Mother's day outing, throw a family party. All mom has to do is come and enjoy. Have family members bring a dish that held special significance for mom. Remember how mom would serve her mouth watering meatloaf every Monday night? Nobody could make fresh from the garden okra taste better than mom. Remember the heavenly smell of dinner rolls? Don't forget mom's juicy peach cobbler with the flakiest crust on the planet and it wouldn't be complete without premium vanilla ice cream to top it off. Introduce these foods to mom again and help her recreate memories of dinners past.

After dinner, let the grandkids work off some of that nervous energy by putting on some skits. Show old home movies and reminisce about the past. Moms usually have a lot of neat stories about their childhood and growing up that they like to tell.

A Mother's Day outing doesn't have to be elaborate or cost a lot of money. It's all about creating memories.

Sources:
consumer.discoverohio.com/searchdetails.aspx?detail=56411
littlerock.about.com/od/thingstodo/tp/motherday.htm