Holidays in Assisted Living

 

If this is your loved one’s first holiday in assisted living you may be wondering how to make it special and keep your old family traditions alive. While this year might look different than previous holidays based on mom or dad’s personal care needs, there’s always a way to make this season special. Traditions can always be modified, and you and your loved one will even have opportunities to make some new ones. With that said, our experts at UMC at The Shores put together some holiday ideas for you and your loved one in assisted living.

Festive Outings

If mom is willing and able, holiday outings are a great way to enjoy the season together. Some ideas can be driving around the neighborhood to see holiday light displays, or going to see a classic Christmas show at a local theater. Outings can also be as simple as bringing your loved one back to your house to bake the Christmas cookies you’ve been making together for as long as you can remember. If possible, pick up mom on the morning of the holiday, so you can spend the day together.

Prioritize Your Traditions and Make More

As we mentioned above, if baking cookies is your non-negotiable holiday tradition, bring your loved one to your home and make it happen. If leaving the assisted living community isn’t an option for them, bring the baked cookies to them and decorate the cookies together, or just eat them together! While the tradition might not look exactly the same as it has in the years before, it can still live on. Consider making new traditions as well. One idea for a new tradition could be watching Christmas movies together with a good ol’ cup of hot chocolate in their assisted living apartment. When starting a new tradition keep it simple. The goal is to enjoy the time you spend together and not to overthink it.

Deck the Halls!

Just because dad has a new home in assisted living, it doesn’t mean you need to skip the holiday decorations! You can pick up a small artificial Christmas tree, bonus if it is prelit, and hang those keepsake ornaments neither of you could part with. Hanging stockings or a festive wreath and getting a holiday plant like a poinsettia are also great, simple options to spruce up your dad’s space for the holiday.

Holidays in Assisted living at UMC at The Shores

Did you know that UMC has their own holiday traditions that have become resident favorites over the years? Each of our communities has an annual “tree fluffing” or decoration session where they take out all the artificial trees and decorate them for the holiday. Themed crafts and activities fill the calendars, as well as special holiday themed snacks and desserts from the chefs. A resident and staff favorite at The Shores in particular, are visits from the local church choirs, school choruses, and local musicians that come to perform Christmas carols and hymns. We also encourage our residents, and their families, to keep their traditions going in our communities. If you need a little assistance modifying a family tradition for community living, there is always a trustworthy associate available and willing to help.

To learn more about how we are spending the holidays in assisted living, please visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/theshores/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/blog/holidays-in-assisted-living/