New Year’s Eve is a great time to celebrate happy memories and look to the future with hope. As you or your loved one get older, it might be hard to get into the spirit of New Year’s Eve—or maybe you still have that excitement, but you want to find a new way to ring in the new year.
Below, we share ideas for New Year’s Eve theme parties, game nights, and family get-togethers that can help you and your loved ones celebrate the end of the year with fun, senior-friendly activities.
Choose a Party Theme
Whether you’re having a get-together with a few close friends and family, or you’re inviting a larger group, hosting a theme party is a fantastic way to get into the spirit of New Year’s Eve.
Murder Mystery
Not only is a murder mystery party a fun way to create interaction and intrigue, but it can also be a way to tie into an overall party theme based on different eras or locations. You can find murder mystery hosting tips and tools online, including Y2K Chaos, Murder in Margaritaland, or a family-friendly option like Pajama Party Pandemonium.
Prom Night Revisited
Pull together decorations, costumes, music, and snacks that reflect what prom was like for you or your loved one. Take the classic prom picture, and then hit the dance floor with tunes from your time. If it’s a multi-generation party, it will be fun to see how the kids react to what their grandparents thought was “cool” when they were younger.
Noon Year’s Eve
If staying up late isn’t your thing, or your loved one has Sundowner's Syndrome or dementia, then celebrating the new year at noon provides an opportunity to do a big countdown. Noisemakers, confetti, and yummy treats are fun any time of day. Making party hats or festive decorations can be a fun craft for seniors on New Year’s Eve.
Dance Party
Depending on everyone’s health and fitness levels, you can have a dance party where older generations can show off the jitterbug, foxtrot, twist, hustle, or mashed potato—and younger adults can show off the cha-cha slide, the Dougie, and Gangnam style. Even the littlest party guests can inspire everyone to do the hokey pokey or a round of Head, Shoulders, Knees,and Toes. Just be sure to remove slipping and tripping hazards, such as loose rugs and clutter.
Creativity Corner
Turn on your favorite holiday music or songs from decades ago and set up a crafting spot where you can put together handmade crafts, work on a scrapbook or photo album, or create a collage or moodboard with goals for the coming year. You could also get a group together to knit or crochet for more social engagement.
Host Game Night (or Day)
Getting together to play games is a popular option for indoor New Year’s Eve activities. In addition to sitting around the dining table to play games, there are many other interactive activities seniors and their loved ones can try.
Card Games
Bridge, canasta, rummy, crazy eights, and Uno are old-school card games, enjoyed across generations—but trying something different is fun, too.Consider newer card games like Monopoly Deal Card Game or Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. Whether you want something straightforward, silly, or more structured, these games are easy to transport and can accommodate people of all ages and abilities.
Board Games
From Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, and Scrabble to Yahtzee, backgammon, checkers, and bingo, these board game classics are popular New Year’s Eve activities. Grab some tasty treats and cozy drinks as you and your loved ones settle in for a night full of games.
Karaoke or Guess the Song
Having a musical night can bea great way to stay energized throughout New Year’s Eve celebrations. Choose from a variety of Karaoke apps to get your party started or play an at-home version of “Name That Tune” with apps like Song Quiz. If you or your loved one enjoy crafts, you can create award ribbons for funniest performer, silliest singer, most dramatic rendition, or other lighthearted honors.
No Equipment Needed
There are many enjoyable games that don’t come in a box, such as 20 Questions, charades, and hangman. You could also play a social game like Two Truths and a Lie, where you share three statements, and the rest of the group must figure out which one is the lie. This is a unique way for you or your older loved ones to share bits of your history with family members.
Connect with Family
Starting with Thanksgiving, the winter holidays are all about family and spending quality time together. Here are some ways you can do that on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Schedule a Video Chat
One of the best things to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is the easy availability and affordability of video calls.There’s just something special about seeing and hearing your loved ones, even if you’re not in the same room.
Collect Letters and Pictures
Gather letters from far-away loved ones, pictures children have drawn, photos of special events, and notes of encouragement. Open them up and enjoy them together. You can also include notecards with pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes so senior relatives can send letters of their own.
Create a Time Capsule
Start with a shoebox or storage container that’s no longer being used. Ask each person at your New Year’s Eve gathering to write a note (or draw a picture) of the best thing that happened in the past year and another note with their hopes for the new year. You can also put in pieces of NYE party décor or other mementos that will be interesting to look at in 365 days.
Host Camp Grandma and Grandpa
If you or your loved one have grandchildren, invite them for a sleepover full of blanket forts, kid-friendly movies, snacks, and snuggles. This gives adult children a chance to go out for New Year’s Eve while providing their kiddos with something exciting to look forward to.
BrightStar Care® Is Here for You During the Holidays
Our compassionate caregivers are experienced with helping seniors remain safely independent in the comfort and familiarity of their homes—all year round. If you or your loved one need social engagement and companionship during the holidays or a little extra help with activities of daily living (ADLs), you can count on BrightStarCare. We also provide respite care services so that family caregivers can have peace of mind while tending to their own responsibilities.
Whether you’re seeking in-home care services or a reliable medical staffing partner for your organization, our experienced local care team members are ready to help. Find a location near you, contact us online, or call (844) 526-0700 to learn more about how BrightStar Care offers A Higher Standard®.