Hosting a Women’s World Cup Viewing Party for Seniors

Hosting a Women’s World Cup Viewing Party for Seniors

Soccer (or football, in other corners of the world) has long since been recognized as a favorite sport on an international scale, and the United States is finally catching up. Over the past 40 years, soccer’s popularity in the States has grown nearly 300%. As a result, the World Cup has become a sensation across the entire world, inspiring celebrations across all ages.

This summer, the globe is excited to watch the Woman’s World Cup. Whether your elderly loved one is a long-time soccer fan, a recent inductee into the club, or simply someone who enjoys a party, holding a gathering is a great way for your elderly loved one to get social. If you’re hosting a Women’s World Cup Viewing Party for seniors, incorporate these ideas for additional fun.

Choose the game you would like to watch

You can’t have a watch party without deciding what game to watch first. Ask your loved one which teams they would most like to watch face off. Alternatively, see if they would perhaps like to wait until one of the final games. If your elderly loved one is overwhelmed by the number of choices, consider limiting their options to their favorite teams. For instance, if your loved one supports the U.S. Women’s national team, choose one of those matches.

This year, the Women’s World Cup takes place in Australia. This may make viewing live games a challenge, as they could be anywhere from 12 to 16 hours ahead of our current time zone. Ask your loved one if they’d like to host a viewing party in the morning, or if they’d like to watch a replay of the game at a later hour.

Make international snacks for the game

Celebrate the variety of cultures coming together for the sake of sportsmanship by cooking a few easy, international dishes together. Cooking and baking is a great hobby for seniors, as it encourages them to engage with their creativity and problem-solving skills. In addition, seniors are also fine-tuning their hand-eye coordination. It can, however, be quite tiresome, so work alongside them to not exhaust them.

• Baked brie—this simple side is a serious crowd-pleaser. Drizzle the cheese with white wine, honey, and rosemary, bake it, and then serve it. Enjoy it alongside bread, vegetables, or crackers.
• Hummus—hummus is a surprisingly easy recipe to make. Everything is essentially just poured into a food processor and blended until smooth. Pita and vegetables serve as great vessels for this dip.
• Pulled pork tacos—pulled pork may sound like a lofty creation, but most of the time spent cooking pulled pork is in the oven! Topped with a simple slaw, this beloved dish is light and delicious.
• Soccer field cupcakes—if your loved one has a sweet tooth, cupcakes are a great option. Bake their favorite flavor of cupcake, push them all together in even rows, then decorate with your favorite frosting (in green) as if it was one cake. With a little bit of white frosting, you have your field!

Get physical with the players

Instead of sitting for two hours, incorporate a little exercise into the game. Make up a few game movement rules to get your elderly loved one’s blood pumping throughout the course of the World Cup watch party. These can essentially be whatever you’d like, but if you need a few ideas to get started, consider these options.

• Stretch any time there is a pause in the game. Whether an injured player pauses the game or a referee needs a few minutes to look over a play, use this time to get up and stretch. Try shoulder and upper back stretches, ankle circles, hip stretches, or any of these other great stretches for seniors.
• Celebrate goals with jumping-jack alternatives. When the players score a goal, celebrate alongside them with some jumping jacks! It is important to note, however, that traditional jumping jacks may be difficult for some seniors, so give them the option to celebrate with these alternatives instead.
• Keep moving during commercials. There is usually only one lengthy commercial break during a soccer game. So, take advantage of this interruption to get moving. Walk in place or around the room, and don’t stop until the game starts again.

At-home caregivers can help you focus on fun

If your loved one struggles with the activities of daily living, Hosting a women’s world cup viewing party for seniors, or any sort of gathering may be a stressful endeavor. Luckily, an at-home caregiver can help. For 30 years, Home Care Powered by AUAF has supported seniors in the Chicago area, and we would be happy to support your loved one too. Give us a call at 773-274-9262 for more information.