How To Navigate The Holidays With A Loved One In Skilled Nursing

The holidays are special times for people to share with family and friends. While these joyful times are perfect for spending time with those most important to us, those with a loved one in an assisted living or a skilled nursing facility may find the holidays emotional and challenging. 

It may not be possible to celebrate with everyone in the way you usually do. Still, it’s crucial to connect with family and friends in a care facility, and spread holiday cheer in their new environment.

Spending time together and engaging in simple holiday activities for seniors, such as decorating their room, playing cards and other games, baking cookies, listening to music, and reminiscing, can boost your loved one’s mood, and help them enjoy the holiday season.

Planning Visits Around The Holidays

You don’t have to struggle on your own to enjoy meaningful time with your loved one in skilled nursing during the holidays. The care professionals will help you plan in-person visits and family gatherings. They can also let you know about special holiday activities at the facility that you can join, such as decorating the facility’s Christmas tree, or enjoying carolers performing for the patients. 

Additionally, facility staff can help coordinate virtual celebrations for those who live far away. Virtual celebrations give loved ones a chance to catch up and see you, even if you can’t visit in person.

You also don’t have to plan huge gatherings with lots of presents. Your loved one benefits most from spending quality time with family and friends. The most meaningful “presents” you can give involve your presence. 

Moreover, you can create special memories with simple activities. Surprising your loved one with a mini tree and photo ornaments, maybe even featuring their grandchildren, is a great way to let them decorate their own tree. You can also make a playlist of their favorite holiday music they can listen to on their phone or computer via a streaming site. Lastly, you can help them decorate their space with seasonal wall decor and bring them a seasonal blanket and pillows.

Meaningful Holiday Activities In Skilled Nursing

You can make the holidays memorable for your loved one by joining activities, or organizing holiday events that other patients can enjoy as well. 

Thanksgiving activities you can host for seniors include Thanksgiving dinners, gratitude circles, and crafts, such as making Thanksgiving wreaths with fall-colored leaves, cardboard rings or paper plates, and glue. 

Christmas activities for seniors can include a Christmas carol sing-along, decorating a Christmas tree, enjoying a Christmas dinner, a White Elephant gift exchange, and watching a Christmas movie together.

Christmas games for seniors include Bingo, card games, Scrabble, and Pictionary.

Christmas crafts are also an excellent way to spend meaningful time together. Some enjoyable and straightforward craft activities include making the following:

• Christmas cards
• Ornaments
• Paper chains
• Popsicle stick stars
• Wreaths

You can also lead holiday cooking activities. Making fudge, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and peppermint bark is a great way to engage patients and give them a tasty treat to enjoy afterward.

Supporting Emotional Well-Being

Older adults in skilled nursing may struggle with loneliness and depression during the holidays. They may not be able to enjoy their favorite holiday sites or visit friends and family. One of the best ways to combat loneliness for seniors is to spend time with them. Demonstrating thoughtfulness, compassion, understanding, and patience can make your loved one feel connected and loved.

Here are a few ways to support your loved one’s emotional well-being during the holidays:

• Drop in for surprise visits.
• Friends and family who can’t visit in person can send Christmas cards and record holiday messages.
• Plan holiday events to enjoy together.
• Take your loved one on an outing to a place they visit every year, such as a Christmas train display, a tree lighting, or a parade.

Another great way to reinforce your connection is to create a personalized Advent calendar for your loved one, with special treats or gifts and messages from family members for every day of the holiday season.

Collaborating With Skilled Nursing Staff

Skilled nursing staff plan meaningful and memorable activities throughout the holiday season, and help create a warm, festive environment. You can support the staff’s efforts by coordinating with them to provide extra supplies for decorating or sponsoring gifts for patients without family. 

You can also volunteer to assist with special activities, such as baking or decorating.

Working with staff helps your loved one to feel included in planned activities, and is a great way to motivate them to engage.

Making New Traditions

Being flexible is a great way to demonstrate a positive spirit during the holidays. Be willing to enjoy new activities and make new traditions you can enjoy with your loved one. New activities for seniors can include storytelling time, gratitude circles, and recipe exchanges with other patients. 

You can also create a new tradition by decorating a tabletop Christmas tree with pictures of their grandchildren or pets.

Enjoying The Holidays With Your Loved One In Skilled Nursing

Embracing creative ways to connect with loved ones in assisted living or skilled nursing, and demonstrating thoughtfulness and compassion will help emphasize your connection to them and boost their spirits during the holiday season. 

Spending meaningful time with your loved one is the best way to support them. Engaging in simple holiday activities for seniors is a great way to spread holiday cheer and joy, while enjoying time together with your loved one.