Why is it important to honor grandparents in skilled nursing facilities?

Honoring grandparents in skilled nursing facilities is important because it strengthens family bonds and significantly boosts their well-being. Celebrations provide companionship, which reduces anxiety and depression; offer emotional and health benefits associated with positive relationships; and improve their overall quality of life by alleviating feelings of isolation.

Celebrating Grandparents’ Day 2025 in Skilled Nursing

Grandmother and Grandchild laughing together.

National Grandparents’ Day is observed every September. The U.S. has recognized the first Sunday following Labor Day as National Grandparents’ Day since 1978, and has officially observed Grandparents’ Day since 1979.

Grandparents’ Day is a celebration of our grandparents and the importance of our relationships with them. Grandparents in skilled nursing facilities benefit from knowing that their grandchildren want to celebrate with them, regardless of their location.

Exceptional skilled nursing facilities, such as those operated by Monument Health Group, welcome Grandparents’ Day celebrations and recognize their role in boosting residents’ morale and quality of life.

Contact Monument Health Group to learn how our staff helps families and residents connect on Grandparents’ Day, and other special occasions.

The Importance of Honoring Grandparents

Honoring grandparents and celebrating Grandparents’ Day is a powerful way to strengthen family relationships. Celebrating the date is a way for grandchildren to demonstrate they understand their grandparents’ values and the importance of fostering connections with them.

Grandparents living in skilled nursing facilities benefit from celebrating with family in the following ways:

Companionship: Spending time with others can reduce your grandparents’ anxiety and alleviate or prevent depression.
Emotional benefits: Celebrating with family members is a joyful experience. Visiting your grandparents in a skilled nursing facility on Grandparents’ Day will make them happy.
Health benefits: People go to skilled nursing facilities to recover from surgery, illness, or injury. Since relationships can improve health, celebrating allows facility residents to enjoy the health benefits of relationships with family members.
Improved quality of life: Visits from family members can alleviate your loved one’s feelings of isolation and loneliness, and improve their quality of life.

Honoring your grandparents by celebrating Grandparents’ Day with them is also a great way to retain family history. Your grandparents can share family stories and information that you can pass down to your children.

Honoring Grandparents’ Day in a Skilled Nursing Facility

Spending time with grandparents living in skilled nursing facilities is an effective way of honoring them. Ideally, you can visit your grandparents in person. If you live far away, your grandparents can enjoy the benefits of a virtual visit through a video call. The professionals at Monument Health Group can help families connect with facility residents in a way that suits everyone’s needs.

Simple and effective ideas for celebrating Grandparents’ Day include the following:

Looking at photos of family members and special events
Reminiscing about special memories
Sharing stories about family members and events

You can add a personal touch to your celebration by sending your grandparents cards. You may even have children of your own; have them make cards for your grandparents or draw pictures you can frame.

If you’re able to visit in person, you or your children could frame photos or drawings with your grandparents.

Unique Grandparent Day Ideas

The following are some of the many unique ideas you can use to make your Grandparents’ Day celebration memorable:

Bring the world to them: Do your grandparents have favorite places they’d love to visit one more time? Arrange a video chat with someone who lives there who’ll share live images of their favorite places. If a video chat isn’t possible, collect photos and make them a scrapbook that they can enjoy.
Enjoy a day out: Make arrangements with skilled nursing facility staff to take your grandparents out for the day. You can enjoy a meal at one of their favorite restaurants or visit one of their favorite places.
Lead a group activity with your loved one on Grandparents’ Day: You and your grandparents may share a love of cooking or playing Bingo. Contact the skilled nursing facility staff and make arrangements to lead this activity for your grandparents and other residents.
Schedule a virtual family reunion: Connect with other family members via a video chat and allow your grandparents to catch up with siblings, cousins, or other grandchildren who can’t visit in person.
Throw a party: Host a party or luncheon to make Grandparents’ Day extra special and allow your loved ones to celebrate with you, other residents, and facility staff.

You can also make the day memorable by adopting a grandparent who doesn’t have family nearby to celebrate with. Perhaps your grandparents have a friend at the facility who will be spending the day alone. Including them in your celebration is a great way to foster your grandparents’ relationship with them.

Tips for Making the Day Special

Ways of honoring your grandparents and making Grandparents’ Day special include incorporating the following into your celebration:

Add personal touches: Having photos and incorporating your grandparent’s favorite color into party decor are great ways to add personal touches.
Include meaningful gestures: Suppose your grandparent has a pet they couldn’t bring to the facility. You can take your grandparent to see their pet.
Include family members: Make efforts to include other family members in the celebration.
Include the staff: Including facility staff is a great way to recognize their contributions to your loved one’s quality of life, and give your grandparents memories they can share with staff.

Meaningful and Memorable Grandparents’ Day Celebrations with Loved Ones in Skilled Nursing

Celebrating Grandparents’ Day strengthens your connection with your grandparents. Planning activities that bring joy to your grandparents can boost their spirits, enhance their quality of life, and improve their overall health.

Celebrating with grandparents in skilled nursing facilities helps your grandparents feel connected and reduces feelings of loneliness. The professionals at these facilities will help you plan a meaningful celebration with your grandparents that they’ll love.

Contact Monument Health Group to learn more about our skilled nursing facilities.