Go shopping together.
Getting out of the house is healthy, especially for those who spend much of their time in the house. If your loved one can only go out for a short while, then spend the time buying smaller items, such as napkins, decorations, or deserts. For those who are able to walk longer, you can do your Thanksgiving shopping together.
Plan Thanksgiving together.
You and your loved can sit down over tea or coffee and discuss what you will have for dinner, what music should be played, what hors d'oeuvres will be put out. This will help loved ones to feel like they are contributing to the family.
Do crafts together.
If you enjoy making your own thanksgiving decorations, include your loved one, especially if he/she had a hobby in the past, such as flower arrangement or knitting. If your loved one has a dementing illness, you can purchase child craft books as the crafts are easier. I have seen them just for holidays. This way, you can enjoy making your crafts, while your loved one enjoys what they are doing. If you do not have time to make crafts, your loved one can still enjoy the many benefits out of his craft-making while you plan the Thanksgiving dinner and by getting it all ready.
Bake together.
If your loved one has Alzheimer's or any other dementing illness, he or she can still help in the kitchen. Stirring batters, pouring in chocolate chips to the cookie dough, and placing little candies on cakes and other goodies are helpful ways of including your loved ones. If your elderly loved one is capable of baking by herself, you can do one thing, while she does another.
Cook together.
This is the same as baking. Allow your loved one to do as much as he/she can. Your loved one can pour veggies out of the can into a pot or place serving spoons in the proper dishes. Be creative, as you know what your loved ones are capable of doing. The key is to allow our loved ones to do as much as she can and assist if needed.
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