How Senior Care Communities Can Make the Holidays Special for Residents

The holidays can be tough times for senior care residents, especially if they have lost loved ones or aren’t able to spend the holidays with family. However, there are several ways that senior care communities can make the holidays special for residents, from unique celebration ideas to the simple act of gifting a holiday card.

Celebrations Grounded in Tradition

Layla Barron, assistant director of Lifestyles at Edgemere Dallas, explains that holiday celebrations start with the tradition of decorating the entire community. “We have some residents who have been here since the very beginning,” she says. Some residents have crafted and decorated garlands, wreaths, and ornaments, and those items are still hung through the community.

The community’s biggest holiday event is its annual candlelight dinner. “It’s a lovely, elegant, and very elevated evening,” says Barron. The dinner’s purpose is to celebrate friendships that have been newly made, as well as to remember anyone whom the community may have lost that year. “It’s been an Edgemere standard for as long as Edgemere has been around, and it’s probably one of our most special events,” Barron notes.

Image copyright Edgemere Dallas. Used with permission.

The self-named Edgemere Knitwits, a knitting club, also donates to the children’s pediatric hospital each year. The club knits hats for babies and creates a bag of courage for

children staying in the hospital. “During the child’s stay, they receive beads that denote different procedures, including everything from a needle stick to a surgery. Children can collect the beads in their bags of courage, and at the end of their stay, the beads show everything that they’ve been through.

While many celebrations are grounded in tradition, Barron explains that residents also come up with ideas for new programs and celebrations. “We have numerous resident committees where they put these clubs or groups together, and they request to go see or do something,” she says. “That’s what Edgemere fosters. It’s all about living. You come here and life doesn’t stop. We’re elaborating and expanding life even more.”

Community Connections

Many of the holiday celebrations at Blakehurst Baltimore incorporate involvement from the greater community. Debra Bartgis, community life services director at Blakehurst Baltimore, explains that the community works with Rabbi Ben from the nearby Gilcrest Services to host a Hanukah program for those of the Jewish faith and those who would like to learn about it.

“We have a vespers committee here, and we offer a vespers program for those of the Jewish and Christian faith,” explains Bartgis. “I think it’s a wonderful way we recognize all the faiths we currently have.”

On the first Wednesday of December, the community trims their Christmas trees. Residents can donate ornaments, and the community has also collected ornaments over the years. After dinner, all of the residents come to the lobby to decorate the tree, and then they enjoy a holiday concert and eggnog and cookies.

Blakehurst engages with the greater community in several other ways, too. The residents take an annual trip to see a local Baltimore area train garden. A country school visits the community and runs a holiday singing program. This year, the coresidents will attend a walkthrough holiday light tour at the local state fairgrounds.

Blakehurst also runs a holiday project among employees to collect items for the Family Crisis Center Safe Shelter, which serves women looking for shelter from abusive situations. Residents can also participate by collecting items to donate to the important cause.

Intergenerational Celebration

Shannon Schmidt, director of Life Enrichment at The Buckingham

On the first Saturday every December, Santa visits The Buckingham Senior Living Community in Houston for an intergenerational “Photos with Santa” event. The event is largely run by the senior living community’s residents, and it’s attended by community residents, staff and their children, and residents’ families.

A resident plays the part of Santa, while a team of 10 to 12 other residents work as greeters, ushers, Santa’s assistant, and staff the photo booth and crafts station. “We have a senior resident, Inge Liesner, who works diligently for weeks prior to the event to make a giant gingerbread house, from which she invites children to take cookies and treats at the event,” explains Shannon Schmidt, director of Life Enrichment at The Buckingham.

This event has taken place every year since the community opened in 2005. “We plan every year with no end in sight, as the event is much anticipated by the residents who host it, families of those who reside at The Buckingham, and many, many staff members and their children who attend annually,” says Schmidt.

Image copyright The Buckingham Senior Living Community. Used with permission.

She explains that The Buckingham is inclusive of the beliefs, values, and customs of all of its residents. “We evolve every day and encourage the sharing of traditions for the various holidays others celebrate,” Schmidt notes. “This is done through education, displays, and collaboration between residents and staff.”

Schmidt recommends that senior living communities find ways to show respect for all cultures and be sensitive to the emotions residents may be experiencing during the holiday season. “Sometimes the holidays are a very difficult time, not just for seniors, but for anyone who has lost a loved one,” she explains. “Show compassion by taking the time to listen and have the understanding that this may not be a joyous experience for everyone.”

For example, rather than assuming that all residents want a meal that features traditional holiday dishes, a community can give multiple options for holiday meals that go beyond the traditional choices. Communities can leave spaces that aren’t decorated for Christmas for those who wish to escape, can also make welcoming spaces available for visitors and family during the holidays.

Holiday Cards

Rachel Doyle, founder and CEO of GlamourGals

Rachel Doyle, founder and CEO of GlamourGals, has found that the simple act of sending senior care residents holiday cards can have a tremendous impact. GlamourGals’ My Dear Friend campaign was launched in response to the pandemic. The campaign, in which individuals volunteer to handwrite cards for seniors, allows people of all ages to share a special message in a tangible way. The cards are then shipped to senior care communities throughout the country, where they’re handed out to residents.

“The idea of being able to slip a note or card underneath a doorframe is really where this came out of,” says Doyle. As the idea caught on, not only were GlamourGals immediate volunteers card writers, but thousands of individuals across the country wanted to write cards. Since its inception, the My Dear Friend program has facilitated over 70,000 cards.

Today, the My Dear Friend program hosts several card-writing campaigns throughout the year, including My Dear Friend Galentine’s Day and My Dear Friend Holiday campaigns. The current holiday campaign’s goal is to reach 50,000 seniors in all 50 states.

As part of the My Dear Friend Holiday campaign, GlamourGals sets up a booth for Hermosa Beach’s (California) Hermosa for the Holidays open-air winter wonderland participants to write holiday cards to seniors. Last year’s Hermosa for the Holidays event resulted in the creation of over 300 cards.

In addition to opportunities to write cards at in-person events, GlamourGals offers individuals the chance to write cards from their own home, too. Interested individuals can complete a brief form to receive instructions and a free card download to get started.

The response to the cards has been overwhelmingly positive. “Each year we do a survey of the senior centers we work with and are happy to report that the last survey had a 100% positive reaction,” says Doyle. “Individuals share how much it means to them to have a physical card, or just that acknowledgement from someone else. It’s their time and creativity going toward making someone smile.”

Representatives of senior care communities who would like residents to receive cards from the My Dear Friend campaign can fill out an online form to sign up.

Inclusion and Family

Christian Bullas, owner at Senior Home Care By Angels London

When planning your senior care holiday celebrations, taking a personalized, inclusive approach can help your community truly connect with residents. Christian Bullas, owner at Senior Home Care By Angels London, highlights the importance of organizing holiday activities that reflect each resident’s unique holiday traditions. He recommends speaking with residents and their families, working with them to choose personalized decorations and holiday music that evokes meaningful memories. This approach can help make a senior care community feel like home during the holidays.

“It’s crucial to do what you can to encourage family visits, which play an essential part in improving the health and spirit of residents during the holiday season,” he adds. Inclusion is also essential, such as organizing events that honor different cultures and beliefs, and serving festive meals featuring residents’ favorite holiday dishes.

Involving both family and residents in holiday planning allows for a more personalized approach, ensuring the community hosts events and celebrations that will be meaningful for residents. “This collaborative technique not only adds a personal touch, but also changes the facility into a warmer, homelike environment,” explains Bullas.

Making the Holidays Special

There are many ways to make the holidays special for residents, and it’s easy to fill a calendar with holiday activities. However, the suggestions above highlight the importance of taking a deliberate and sensitive approach to holiday celebrations. Plus, sometimes even little gestures, like holiday cards, can have a big impact. So work on balancing your celebrations and making sure the events you do schedule are meaningful. “Smile, smile, smile, and don’t feel pressured to over plan,” advises Schmidt. “The holidays can easily fall into a stressful time. Slow down and enjoy.”

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a contributing writer to i Advance Senior Care.