By Sheila Robison, Economic Security Team Member at Elder Law of Michigan.
February has long been celebrated as a month of romance because of the ever-popular holiday, Valentine’s Day! It is the second most popular holiday for sending cards in the United States with Christmas being the first.
Hallmark states there are approximately 145 million Valentine’s Day cards exchanged in February. It is easy to see that people young and old, all around the world, love Valentine’s Day and enjoy celebrating love! After all, Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion for showing your affection and it is not just for couples anymore. Parents can give special goodies to their children, siblings send surprises to each other, young and old friends of any age get together for a lunch date, or a church member may surprise their pastor. Individuals or groups of people often gather and go to hospitals and assisted living homes to spread happiness. The ideas to celebrate Valentine’s Day are endless!
This Valentine’s Day, let’s go beyond the normal gift of candy. A houseplant, for instance, would be an ideal gift for an adult with diabetes. A stuffed animal might be perfect for a person with dementia who would appreciate something to cuddle. Feel free to go beyond the gift of chocolates or the sugary candy hearts. Most importantly, have fun with gifting. Enjoy yourself while making others happy, for the saying, “it is better to give than to receive” never grows old. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Sheila Robison is an Economic Security Team Member for MiCAFE at Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since June 2010. As an Economic Security Team Member, Sheila assists Michigan seniors with benefit applications and serves as an advocate for the health and safety of seniors.