Celebrating the Holidays with a Loved One in Senior Living

Dear Donna:

My kids and I are trying to figure out how to celebrate the holidays with my mom, who recently moved to a senior living community. While my mom will be joining us on Christmas day at our home, we’d like to find ways to help her enjoy the season in her new place.

Because this is our first experience with the holidays in senior living, we aren’t sure what to expect. Are families welcome to visit whenever they like and participate in scheduled activities? Do you have any suggestions for how we can make the holidays more memorable for my mom? Any advice would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Patti in Traverse City, MI

Tips to Celebrate the Season with a Loved One in Senior Living

Decorate her space: Whether it’s an apartment, villa, or suite, don’t forget to bring the spirit of the season to her space. Decorating for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another holiday can be fun for the whole family. First, check with the team at the community to see if there are any restrictions on what kind of decorations can be used and where they can be placed. Then you’ll likely need to sort through the boxes of decorations she used in the past to see if any can be modified to fit a smaller space.
Ask for an events schedule: From holiday craft nights to school choir visits, senior living communities tend to be busier than ever during the holiday season. If you don’t have online access to the community’s events calendar, ask for a copy. Review it with your mom and family to see which activities you might want to attend.
Plan a holiday movie night: Another fun idea is to host a holiday movie night. If your mom’s apartment or suite isn’t set up to accommodate the number of guests you’d like to invite, ask the staff for suggestions. Many senior living communities have space residents can use for gatherings, and they’ll likely have a place to show movies. Serve favorite seasonal treats, such as iced cookies, homemade marshmallows, wassail, and eggnog.
Organize a caroling party: One nice thing about senior living communities is being able to celebrate with neighbors without having to go outdoors on a snowy night. Talk with the community staff to see if you can organize a caroling party and go door-to-door singing holiday tunes for fellow residents.
Have a cookie party: Don’t let the smaller space or lack of a private oven keep you from making holiday cookies together. For example, bring pre-baked cookies, icing, and all of the fixings to your mom’s place to create your masterpieces. Or consider making stovetop or microwave holiday candy,
Plan festive outings: Just because your mom has a new address doesn’t mean she can’t attend seasonal events in the surrounding area. It might be fun to get tickets to the symphony, a special event at the art museum, or even the zoo. Dress up in your favorite holiday finery and enjoy the time together.