Feel free to take a look at all of the great ideas we have here that you can incorporate for your Senior Day event this year. When you’re ready for more event ideas, download our PDF featuring additional activity ideas for your Senior Day event!

1. If this is your first time hosting a Senior Day event, be sure to start early gathering appropriate resources for handouts and displays. Make copies of the free Senior Health Page handouts to distribute during Senior Day. You can also contact local chapters of health organizations for free copies of health information brochures and materials to distribute. Try local chapters of the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the American Diabetes Association.

2. If you have any activity or exercise classes set for Wednesday, May 27th, invite local older adults to visit your class as part of your National Senior Health & Fitness Day celebration. Contact local senior centers and related organizations to send invitations. (Make sure to obtain any necessary waiver forms from outside participants.)

3. Invite a nutritionist from a local business or hospital to do a presentation on healthy eating, food preparation, and the new dietary guidelines. Be sure to let them know that your audience is going to be older adults. Ask if they can also include a few healthy recipe handouts for participants.

4. Arrange to have your governor or mayor (or both) issue a special proclamation declaring Wednesday, May 27, 2020, as the National Senior Health & Fitness Day. You can tell these prominent, elected officials the event is always held the last day in May during Older Americans Month. This year, more than 100,000 older adults will take part in widely varied local events at 1,000 locations around the country, all on the same day. Direct them to fitnessday.com for additional details.

5. May is also Older Americans Month. Share some information on the history of how this observance got started, and/or utilize some of the resources they will be sharing in the coming months. Visit the site at: https://acl.gov/oam/2020/older-americans-month-2020 and check back for updates.

6. Schedule a “mini-health” fair by asking several local health-related businesses and organizations to make tabletop presentations during your National Senior Health & Fitness Day event. Local organizations and businesses to contact include medical groups, vision care centers, hearing centers, and others.

7. Work with a local dentist to set up a presentation about taking care of your oral health. Have them focus in on the needs of older adults, featuring things such as how to choose shoes for exercise, and the importance of non-slip soles in fall prevention.

8. Invite a local pharmacist to host a “brown bag” session during National Senior Health & Fitness Day. Your local pharmacist can speak about potential risks when taking certain prescription and over-the-counter medicines and vitamins/supplements. Also, see if the pharmacist can schedule private time with seniors at your event to review their medicines and any medication questions they should discuss with their physicians.

9. Contact your local healthcare providers and hospitals/health systems about setting up one or more specialty screenings at your center as part of National Senior Health & Fitness Day. Examples of screenings include bone density tests, diabetes checks, and vision tests.

10. Schedule a National Senior Health & Fitness Day game hour at your event. Invite community members to participate along with the older adults, playing games such as checkers, puzzles, and other simple activities that everyone can enjoy together. Have staff members and volunteers join in as well!

11. Have a “healthy recipe” station where participants can sample a few simple, healthy recipes. Get some ideas for easy recipes here or choose another healthy snack to make. Hand out the recipe at the table so they can make it on their own at home.

12. Invite a tai chi teacher to come and demonstrate some simple exercises for seniors and explain more about this unique martial art.

13. Try out a trivia station as a way to engage the brain! Keep questions related to health and fitness topics for maximum benefit.

14. Play bingo! Gather a group of bingo-lovers for a twist on this beloved game. Use health terms, or forms of exercise to play instead of numbers. Prepare cards ahead of time and don’t be afraid to be imaginative! Select some healthy prizes for winners, such as pieces of fresh fruit.

15. Schedule a fun dance class for active seniors and see if a local teacher will volunteer the time to teach it. Zumba is especially popular! Folk dance can also be fun — see if there is a group that meets in your town and ask if they would come by to show you some moves.

16. Play balloon volleyball. This is a fun choice for wheelchair-bound or less active participants, and it can be played anywhere indoors that has some open space. See our Store for event-themed balloons!

17. Try out some mini golf. All you need is a few clubs, golf balls, and some cups to play. Practice putting, or set up some stations outdoors if it’s a nice day.

18. Teach some strength training exercises that participants can do at home. This doesn’t have to be expensive! You can show a variety of options, such as using soup cans, a Thera-Band®, or light hand weights. Make up a handout to share that features step-by-step instructions for the exercises you teach and pass it out to participants afterward.

19. Designate a room for relaxation. Keep it off the beaten path and play soothing, meditative music so participants can take a time out and unwind. You may even want to lead them through a guided meditation.

20. Set up a Zzzzzzzz station! Post some simple posters about healthy sleep habits over a table with some informational handouts on sleep that participants can take with them. Find some help for the sheets and posters from Harvard Health, or try The National Sleep Foundation for ideas.

21. Make art! Set aside a space for seniors to try their hand at simple crafts, drawing, or painting. See if an art instructor from a local school or studio would be willing to lead them in a project or two, or recruit a senior or staff member with art experience to share their talents.

22. Try out a ring toss to promote hand/eye coordination. Set up a table full of healthy beverages in cans or plastic bottles and have attendees toss a ring over to see if they can secure themselves a tasty drink! See if a local grocery story might be willing to donate the beverages.

23. See if a local conservatory might be willing to send a staff member over to do a container gardening presentation. Fresh herbs make a healthy choice for the main event in the spring months, and they are easy to care for.

24. Play a game of Simon Says! Round up the youngsters and the seniors alike for a rousing game of follow the leader in this traditional game. This is a great way to include some intergenerational activity during the day.

25. See if a local yoga practitioner might be willing to lead a sample “mini-class” for participants doing some simple, basic exercises and breathing techniques.

26. Try out a “photo booth” like they have at weddings! Not only will this provide a fun break for participants, it will give you a great opportunity to get some photos you can use for your social media channels. Hashtag them with #NSHFD and post away. Consider using health-related props, such as fresh fruit, exercise equipment, and even flyers from the event. Stock it with wide brimmed hats, sunglasses, and other items for participants to dress up in.

27. Contact a local optometrist to see if they would be willing to come in and do a free glasses cleaning for participants in return for being able to hand out their brochure.

Click here to see what other sites did for their recent Senior Day events.