Fall is officially here. The weather is cooling and soon our Heritage Gardens will be painted in autumnal colors. Fall is one of our favorite seasons but it is often short-lived here in Chicago so we encourage our residents to take full advantage of the season while we can!
Here’s a list of our favorite fall activities that seniors can enjoy on their own, with friends or with family. We hope you enjoy the season!
Pumpkin Carving or Painting
We love to decorate our retirement community for every holiday but because our residents each have their own apartment-style home, they have the opportunity to decorate their own space too! Pumpkin carving is a fun way to indulge in the season and make your home feel more festive. And for those who might not feel comfortable with carving utensils or who may struggle with arthritis, try painting the pumpkins instead. This is a way to enjoy the fun of decorating pumpkins without worrying about injuries.
Watch Scary Movies
Scary movies are another fun way you can celebrate the season leading up to Halloween. Make some popcorn in your apartment-style home we have here at Thorek Retirement Home and cozy up on the couch for a scary movie marathon. Or join us every Saturday afternoon at 1:15pm in the Auditorium for a movie matinee. We will be playing some seasonal movies this month! View the full calendar of events here.
Have a Fall Picnic
The fall is the perfect time to have a picnic outdoors and take in the beautiful colors of the season. Bring some seasonal treats or hot cider and get outside before the weather gets too cold. At our Chicago retirement home we have a private garden for our residents called the Heritage Garden. It’s the perfect respite from the city and in the fall, the garden is bathed in red, yellow and orange leaves. It’s a beautiful spot to take in the season.
Visit a Farmer’s Market
Support local farms while also enjoying the freshest fall produce by visiting your local farmer’s market. Stock up on pumpkins to decorate your home. Grab some jam or apple butter. And it’s a nice way to spend a fall afternoon outdoors. The Ravenswood Farmer’s Market runs every Wednesday from 4-7pm through October 12th and the Andersonville Farmer’s Market runs every Wednesday from 3-7pm through October 19th.
Cozy Up with a Board Game Night
The fall days are lovely but the evenings can get quite chilly. Why not cozy up at home with some friends or family and have a board game night. It’s a relaxing way to spend an autumn night. At Thorek Retirement Home, we always have board games readily amiable to our residents in the library and we have weekly games such as poker, bingo and Jeopardy! that residents can participate in. View our full October calendar of events here.