September 8th, 2024 (September 7th, 2025) is National Grandparents Day — a day to celebrate and acknowledge the extraordinary contributions our parents’ parents have made to our lives.
But the truth is, we don’t really need a designated day to honour our grandparents.
Grandparents Day can be any day of the year. And if your grandmother or grandfather lives in a care home, they’ll be delighted to spend quality time with you any time.
Here, we highlight six ways to Do Something Grand and celebrate your grandparents (on any day of the year).
Six ideas to celebrate your grandparents today
1. Make a family tree
Your grandparents are an all-important window into your family’s past. They can share stories and fill in the blanks when it comes to their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins.
Using a service like Findmypast or Ancestry, you can sit together and build a detailed family tree, learning all about the lives of your distant relatives. It might just give you an idea of how you came to be!
2. Share an afternoon tea
Bake or buy sweet treats, scones and sandwiches, and share a cuppa or two with your family. An afternoon tea at home can be a relaxing way to reconnect with your grandparents. At the same time, a trip to a hotel, restaurant, or cafe can offer a welcome change of scenery if your loved ones live in a nursing home or sheltered accommodation.
Search online for afternoon tea vouchers if you’d like to leave the baking and brewing to someone else!
3. Explore their hobbies
Does your grandmother love watercolours or crocheting? Or does your grandfather enjoy a round of golf or a game of cards? Ask if you can join them (and learn from them) when they next participate in one of their hobbies. This can be a great way to get to know your grandparents on another level (and you could pick up a few new skills along the way).
4. Potter about the garden
Gardening is a heart-healthy way to spend time with your older relatives. Take your time, prune, weed, plant seeds, and enjoy the various sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors.
You could even buy your grandparents some new plants to add a bit of colour and variety to their garden. Or you could arrange a trip to your local garden centre with them to choose some seeds and enjoy a slice of cake.
5. Read together
Reading can be a terrific way for younger grandchildren to bond with and learn from their grandparents. Whether it’s picture books, nursery rhymes, or something a little more advanced, they’ll make cherished memories together.
Or if you and your parents/grandparents enjoy a particular author or genre, you might consider reading to them as a way of sharing a new story with one another.
6. Teach them something new
Many older people retain a thirst for knowledge, and some are keen to grasp the opportunity to learn from their children and grandchildren. With this in mind, you could help your grandparents get to grips with their smartphone or tablet, introduce them to video games or the latest music, try a new board game or puzzle, or tackle a new hobby or activity together.
Ask how we can help
If your parents or grandparents are currently residents of Fulford Nursing Home, we’d be thrilled to help you celebrate them, no matter the day of the week. Simply contact us on 01904 654 269 and tell us your plans.
We can carry out a risk assessment if you wish to take them out for the day, or we can arrange an activity ahead of time for your visit.
Alternatively, you can join in with one of our regularly scheduled nursing home activities. You’re always welcome!