Birthday Party for an 85 year old

[EllenFrasier]

My Mom is turning 85 in June. For her 80th birthday, we had a luau with Hawaiian themed decorations, music and food. We invited some of her friends, but most of them did not come because it was extremely not that day - like in the 90's and the party was outside and there was no air conditioning in the house. We had a great time though because we have a large family and she was thrilled with all the attention and presents, etc.

Since that time she has a decline in her general health. She is starting to feel her age with arthritis, etc. She also has had her eye operated on once for cancer and received radiation, and her eyelid this year with no radiation. Since her operation in February, she has been miserable with a scratched cornea and just not feeling comfortable at all. We continue to follow up with her Dr.'s for treatment options.

I would like to have a special celebration for her birthday this year too, maybe not as large as her 80th birthday party was, but something special. She does not like to leave the house much because she cannot see out of that eye any longer and is more comfortable in her own home. She would probably come to my house or my sister's house, but not out in public.
Any ideas?

 

[akcire]

My Mom is turning 85 in June. For her 80th birthday, we had a luau with Hawaiian themed decorations, music and food. We invited some of her friends, but most of them did not come because it was extremely not that day - like in the 90's and the party was outside and there was no air conditioning in the house. We had a great time though because we have a large family and she was thrilled with all the attention and presents, etc.

Since that time she has a decline in her general health. She is starting to feel her age with arthritis, etc. She also has had her eye operated on once for cancer and received radiation, and her eyelid this year with no radiation. Since her operation in February, she has been miserable with a scratched cornea and just not feeling comfortable at all. We continue to follow up with her Dr.'s for treatment options.

I would like to have a special celebration for her birthday this year too, maybe not as large as her 80th birthday party was, but something special. She does not like to leave the house much because she cannot see out of that eye any longer and is more comfortable in her own home. She would probably come to my house or my sister's house, but not out in public.
Any ideas?

Essentially your mom was a teenager in the 1930's

I googled what was popular in the 1930's and found this website.

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1930s.html

**Note sunglasses were invented in the 30's--so she could rock hers if her eyes are bother her.

You could easily pick a movie theme or anything else on the site.

Good luck

 

[babylisa4]

They had her in a nice soft easy chair and then everyone else just came and sat by her. They had lots of pictures from thru the years on a slide show that they had displaying on a wall. These were personal family pics. I was in some but not all but everyone seemed to like looking at them. They were just ones from when the lady was a young mom with the kids when they were young up including picures of her with her great grandchildren. You could make the slideshow pretty big on the wall or a screen so she could see.
It was really fun for everyone in their family and friends to see those old snapshots. The pictures had just been scanned I think.

 

[babylisa4]

Other older people really like seeing their own pictures too so if you can find some kind of pictures with the friends that might come that would be good too.

 

[disneyfanforever]

We started doing theme parties for my grandma's birthday when she turned 80. She always had a great time and looked forward to the next year to see what her theme would be. She recently passed away at the age of 87, and I am so happy we have the memories from all of those parties.

Some of the themes we had were luau as you mentioned, casino (she loved the slots), and tennis (her favorite sport). Her last party last year was a take off on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She loved chocolate and we had all kinds of little chocolates everywhere. Her cakes were made in the shapes of a peppermint and tootsie roll. We painted large lollipops and banners that we hung all over her walls. We then played the diaper game like you do at baby showers where you have to guess what type of chocolate is melted into the diaper. She had a great time and so did everyone else.

I hope you have a great party.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Essentially your mom was a teenager in the 1930's

I googled what was popular in the 1930's and found this website.

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1930s.html

**Note sunglasses were invented in the 30's--so she could rock hers if her eyes are bother her.

You could easily pick a movie theme or anything else on the site.

Good luck

Actually, she was born in 1925, so she was a teenager in 1940's, but I'll adjust the year and see what I come up with! Thanks!