Birthdays at the Center

In my family, birthdays were only a celebration if you were a child. As we grow older, I think birthdays are often neglected because age and the elderly are not often as cherished as they should be.
Birthdays at our Daycare may be handled differently from retirement homes or nursing facilities. I volunteered at a residential healthcare facility and once a month, residents' birthdays falling on that month would all gather in the community room, have a nice dinner and eat cake.
The numbers at our Daycare is much smaller than that of a nursing facility, therefore we have individual celebrations. Lack of budget does not diminish the fun and creativity with our clients. To save on money, I recommend using the cake mixes that you can buy at any grocery store. The cost will be $2-$4 and it taste good. Furthermore, the staff could make it an activity and have some clients bake it themselves. If you wanted to add a present, it does not have to be costly or extravagant. Simplicity is beautiful. Make your own card and sign it. Wrap up cookies in tissue paper or even take a nice picture frame or something you have readily available. I cannot speak for other people, but I believe what makes a birthday special is spending it with people who cares about you and just want you to have a good time.
You are entitled to blow out candles at any age, even if you are short of breath after the deed is done. Even if our clients do not remember how old they are turning, we are not celebrating age. Instead, we are appreciative that we are allowed to celebrate with such remarkable people.