The second Sunday of May each year is the one day a year dedicated solely to letting your mom know how much you appreciate and love her. Whether your celebrating your mom, grandmother or someone whom you have experienced a maternal bond, you want to find just the right activity or gift to show them how much they mean to you.

At Greystone Health, we understand that it can be challenging to think of different ways to celebrate with someone who is aging, and who may have physical or mental limitations. That’s why we’ve brainstormed some creative ideas, including some social-distancing-friendly options, to help you make the most out of Mother’s Day.

For most moms, it’s about spending quality time together in any way, shape or form. So, we’ve come up with numerous meaningful ways to celebrate your mother, as well as a few thoughtful gifts she’s sure to enjoy.

In times when social distancing is necessary, or if you are not able to be with your mom in person, make sure to give her a call or videoconference, during a time when she has your undivided attention. You may want to go one step further and enjoy a virtual family meal together. You can make mom’s favorite foods and bring the meal to her doorstep, or have food from a beloved restaurant delivered to her. Then, link up with a videoconference call for everyone to celebrate together.

For those who live in different time zones that could make a phone call challenging, write a special heartfelt letter, design a card that’s meaningful for her or have her grandkids create handprint notes to send to her. Don’t forget about traditional sentiments, such as sending her favorite flowers, getting her a gift card or delivering a present you know she really needs.

Another option is to send her a few books from her favorite author or some new top sellers you know she would enjoy. Pair the books with some nice tea, and homemade bookmarks with pictures of her family or one from each grandchild to build a gift basket she’s sure to love.

Make a memory jar by decorating a beautiful jar to fill with a lifetime of memories. Use colorful paper and write down a different memory on each piece. Fold each piece of paper up and place them all in the jar, so she can read them throughout the year. You can also put together a memory book from the entire family that includes pictures, favorite ‘mom’-isms, childhood moments that mom made extra special, and so on.

Create a photo bouquet, by cutting flower shapes out of construction paper and gluing family photos to each flower. Glue each flower to a dowel painted green, use green pipe cleaners or green bendable straws, and fill a vase with the photo flowers. All of the gift ideas above can either be delivered to her doorstep, or carefully packaged and mailed to mom.

Whether you live far away, need to be safer with social distancing or just want to make the most out of the time you do get to spend together, Greystone’s all-encompassing personal care solution can be the ideal gift. This is a personalized gift, as we listen to our clients and their families to coordinate the best care schedule to address their individual needs. This is a great way to increase senior independence, while giving the gift of gentle and supportive care. From personal care needs to daily chores to meal planning and prep, you can give your mom exactly the attention she needs no matter where you are.

If your mother lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility, and social distancing is not necessary, she may want to getaway and celebrate at your house or enjoy a day on the town. Bringing her to your home could make for a fun, family-filled day with a delightful Mother’s Day brunch, cozy cookout or fancy dinner. Enjoy creating a family meal together or cook her favorite meal. Make sure to use the nice dinnerware, cloth napkins, and decorate the table with candles and flowers.

Bring back memories from your childhood, by baking a batch of cookies together, such as the same kind that you first baked all those years ago. This is also a great time to have child chefs help out or teach first-time little bakers how to make her go-to dessert.

For a mother who would like to stay in her own living quarters or has special needs that require her to stay at her place, there are still plenty of ways to make her day fun and enjoyable. If you are visiting her in a nursing home, make sure to find out what times are best and if there are any special rules you need to keep in mind.

Make this visit super special by giving everyone an opportunity to connect. If you’re bringing children, provide an activity, such as a craft, game or puzzle that can involve people of all ages. You can play her favorite board game or card game, or you may want to bring along a simple game that the whole group can play together, or play some classic games like charades, twenty questions or bingo.

Another great activity to share with your older adult is music, since it has the universal ability to increase happiness and engagement. Music is also known for reducing agitation or anxiety, and for being a mood booster. Engage in a sing-a-thon of timeless classic songs that all participants can perform together.

Make up funny, silly or loving stories together with ‘collaborative storytelling time’ where each person adds a sentence to the story. Start with something like, “Once upon a time, there was a mother who was admired so much” or “There once was a lovely lady who …” or try a totally different beginning that you would all have fun with.

Bring some old family photos and some up-to-date pictures and have all participants work together to create some scrapbook pages, and then leave the final project for your mom to cherish.

Let younger children bring some of their schoolwork, drawings or treasured items for ‘show-and-tell’ with grandma. If your children are older, they may have fun working on a puzzles or painting a picture with her.

For someone who is bedbound and/or not very responsive, read aloud a book you know they would enjoy or play an audiobook. Watch a movie from your childhood or hers that is sure to make her smile. You could also play some soft music while holding mom’s hand. It may not seem like a lot, but the benefits of human touch can be amazing and just you being there will warm her heart.

Most of all, make sure there are moments of conversation, and take lots of pictures and get video too. These times will make great memories for Mother’s Day celebrations in the future and for children to reminisce with, as they get older.

Whether you deliver a thoughtful gift, venture outside or spend time together indoors, these Mother’s Day ideas give you the perfect opportunity to let you mom know just how much she means to you. Make sure mom knows that no matter what day of the year it is that you treasure her and she’s always in your thoughts.