Food

• If you know the guest of honor's favorite foods, your menu choices are easy. If you're not sure, check with family members to learn if there are any dietary restrictions. The food doesn't need to be fancy. Sandwiches and fruit or a simple meal of chicken and mashed potatoes will be just fine. If a meal isn't in your plans, serve birthday cake with coffee or tea.
  
  Decorate the birthday cake to somehow represent the senior citizen and their life. A big cake with an "80" on it will do, but if he has 12 grandchildren, it will be even more fun to adorn the cake with a dozen tiny plastic people. If the senior is a crafter or quilter, find some cake decorations in a related theme. If she loved gardening, bowling or cooking, these decorations are easy to improvise or are available for purchase.
  
  

Activities

• Present a variation on the "This is Your Life" theme by assembling photos from different times throughout the senior citizen's life. These photos can be turned into a slide show and set to music. Many camera, videography or electronics shops offer such services if you don't know how to do this yourself.
  
  Ask everyone invited to the party to bring a "memory" of the guest of honor. The memory may be handwritten or in the form of a photo or piece of memorabilia. Assemble the items in a scrapbook or shadow box for display at the party and to present to the guest of honor.
  
  Conversation usually takes over as a main activity at a party for a senior citizen, but be prepared with another activity, such as a sing-along or a trivia game, for when the conversation lags.
  
  Ask close friends and family members to "roast" the guest of honor by taking turns telling funny stories or recounting specific events in the person's life.
  
  

Decorations

• Create collages of photos from earlier years and present times as party decorations. Decorate with traditional party supplies, such as crepe paper, streamers and balloons as well.
  
  Transfer photos of the guest of honor onto T-shirts and buttons or magnets by creating personalized items that will serve as both decorations and party favors (see Resources section).