Halloween costumes that lift seniors’ spirits and bring joy
When it comes to major events in October, Halloween is the first that comes to mind.
Around this time of year, many day service centers and senior facilities hold Halloween events.
With Halloween, the food and sweets are fun, but the costume contest is the real highlight.
Not only does Halloween liven things up, but wearing outfits that are different from usual also lifts everyone’s spirits.
In this article, we’ll introduce Halloween costume ideas recommended for older adults.
We’ve gathered costume ideas that are easy to wear for seniors who might feel shy about dressing up, as well as for staff members.
We hope you’ll find them helpful for your Halloween costumes!
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- [For Senior Care Facilities] Fun! Recommended Events for October
- [For Seniors] Fun Halloween Games: Ideas to Enjoy with Ghosts, Mummies, and Spiderwebs
- [Day Service] Craft Ideas for Seniors to Make in October
- Recommended Events for a Sports Day at Day Service Centers for the Elderly
- [For Seniors] Fun Halloween wall decorations: from ghosts and pumpkins to spiders and castles
- [For Seniors] Highlights of Fun Events at Day-Service Centers
Uplifting for seniors! Fun Halloween costumes (1–10)
Little Red Riding Hood
This is a Little Red Riding Hood costume, isn’t it? When most people hear “Little Red Riding Hood,” they probably think of the Brothers Grimm tale.
The girl in the story wears a red hood, right? It’s a popular Halloween costume among girls and women who like cute styles, but why not have older adults join in too and relive their childhood by dressing up? Just drape a large red cloth over your head and carry a basket with flowers, and you’ve got a fine Little Red Riding Hood costume.
It’s easy and I highly recommend it!
Demon Slayer: Nezuko
This is a cosplay costume of Nezuko Kamado, the younger sister of Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of the hugely popular series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Nezuko wears a pink kimono with a hemp-leaf pattern.
Since Demon Slayer became a massive hit, it should be fairly easy to find fabric if you want to make it yourself.
Of course, ready-made cosplay costumes are also available.
Either is fine to wear, but one thing you must not forget for a Nezuko costume is the bamboo muzzle! For certain reasons, Nezuko has become a demon, the natural enemy of humans.
To avoid harming people, she bites down on a piece of bamboo.
That said, you don’t actually need to bite it—attach a string and let it hang from your neck.
witch
A witch costume is a great option for older adults too.
With a black pointed hat and a long dress, you can instantly step into a storybook world.
Using orange and purple adds a Halloween vibe.
It’s also appealing because it’s easy to prepare.
Holding a magic wand will make it even more fun.
I hope older adults can enjoy Halloween with a witch style that brings out their individuality.
If everyone transforms into witches together, it will surely become a wonderful memory.
Elderly Spirits Lifted! Fun Halloween Costumes (11–20)
Whirling Ghost
When it comes to easy Halloween costumes, a sheet ghost might be the go-to choice.
All you have to do is throw a white sheet over yourself, so it’s simple to put on and easy to take off when you’re done.
If you’re making it yourself, cut a white piece of fabric into a rectangle, fold it, and cut a hole in the folded edge to create an opening for your head.
Then make a ghost face out of felt or similar material and stick it on.
You can probably make one with a white plastic trash bag, too.
Wearing a white T-shirt and drawing a ghost face on it is also fine! It’s a costume that’s easy to try regardless of age, so seniors are welcome to join in as well.
Soot Sprite
Susuwatari refers to the character called “Makkuro Kurosuke” in the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro.
Susuwatari are round with jagged edges and have cute little eyes.
If you want to dress up as one, you’ll need to make it yourself since it isn’t sold ready-made.
It’s quite tricky to capture that round shape, but how about creating something like an oversized wrap towel so that when you spread your arms, people can tell it’s a Susuwatari? That would really lower the bar for the costume, don’t you think?
mummy man
If you want to try a full-on costume, how about going for a mummy? It’s a very simple costume, but since you have to wrap white bandages or cloth all around, it’s surprisingly one of the more demanding ones.
If you’re using cloth, using pieces with slightly frayed edges will make it look more authentic.
Adding fake blood can make it scarier, too.
If dressing your whole body feels like a bit much, just doing your face is fine.
Enjoy the costume, but be careful not to cover your nose or mouth, and don’t wrap it too tightly.
prisoner
You might think, “A prisoner costume?” but it’s actually a classic and super easy option! When you think of prisoners, you think of striped clothing.
So just wearing a striped top and bottom completes the costume.
If you want to go the extra mile, try adding fake blood and other touches.
If you don’t mind makeup, zombie-style makeup is also recommended.
Looking a bit dirty rather than perfectly clean makes it more convincing, so try using clothes you don’t mind messing up for the costume.