The holidays are a special time of the year!
Great food, shopping, festive holiday parties, and family time are great, but the holidays can also be challenging and lonely for older adults.
According to Dr. Sonja Rosen, chief of Geriatric Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, “The holiday season can be particularly difficult for older adults who don’t have as many social connections or are hindered by physical limitations because of all the messaging around us that emphasizes activity and connectedness.”
Those who live in senior living communities can also feel lonely during the holidays despite having a variety of planned events and activities.
Celebrating the holidays with parents in senior living is critical to their health and well-being and an excellent way to honor them, create lasting memories, and uphold family traditions.
This blog offers seven creative ideas for celebrating holidays with parents in senior living, including hosting family gatherings, involving them in traditions, decorating their space, and planning virtual celebrations.
1. Enjoy The Community’s Holiday Events
The holiday season is a wonderful time to visit parents in a senior living community. You can enjoy the holiday lights and decorations, enjoy a meal, check out their living space, and meet their neighbors and friends.
Senior living communities work hard to plan and organize fun social events and activities for residents, especially during the holidays. Holiday parties, social events, outside entertainment, dinners, and mixers are some ways senior living residents enjoy the festive season.
2. Decorate Their Room or Apartment
What better way to bring a little holiday cheer to parents in senior living than to deck out their apartment with festive decorations?
Surprise them with autumn-themed wreaths, festive lights, holiday candles, delicious drinks, and a small tree to decorate with favorite ornaments and holiday drinks.
Make it even more special by inviting grandchildren to make holiday cards and cookies or to share holiday stories.
Whether it’s a Christmas tree, Hanukkah candles, or Kwanzaa decorating their room or apartment can lift their spirits and make their space feel more like home.
3. Host a Family Holiday Gathering at the Community
Most senior living communities have beautifully designed common areas and spaces that can be reserved for family gatherings.
Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, hosting a family event allows residents and their family members to enjoy a holiday gathering in a beautiful space without the hassle of cooking and cleaning.
4. Plan a Holiday Event Offsite
If your parents are physically able to do so, surprise them by planning a memorable holiday trip. See the holiday lights, visit a Christmas market, enjoy a decadent dinner, or a holiday play or concert.
If your parents aren’t up to the hustle and bustle. A quiet dinner at home with relatives reminiscing, baking cookies, or looking at photo albums is just as meaningful. .
5. Utilize Technology to Connect With Your Loved One
If visiting parents isn’t possible due to distance or health concerns, technological advancements can make it possible to spend time with loved ones in senior living.
Senior living communities, like Allegro, offer innovative technology solutions such as photo and video sharing, video conferencing, and live-streaming services.
Host a video call with your parents and the rest of your family to share holiday wishes, show off decorations, tell stories, or open gifts.
Coordinate with the senior living community to send gifts or personalized videos.
6. Host a Holiday Arts and Crafts
Crafting is not only fun. It’s creative and stimulates cognitive function in older adults.
Many senior living communities have arts and crafts or activity rooms. Organize a special day for your parents, young grandchildren, and other residents to create holiday-themed crafts, ornaments, wreaths, or greeting cards.
7. Organize a Holiday Recipe Event
Nothing brings families together during the holidays like a great meal. Consider sharing family holiday recipes with senior living residents. Surprise your parents with their favorite home-cooked dishes or baked recipes.
Many senior living communities are happy to accommodate special requests.
Wrap-up
The holidays are a special time for families, and that doesn’t have to change because your parents are living in a senior living community.
With a bit of planning, creativity, and technology, you can celebrate cherished holiday memories while creating new ones.
If you have questions about any of Allegro’s senior living communities, contact us to speak with an advisor.
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