The holiday season is a time when many different cultural traditions come together. People of all backgrounds are united by their desire for warmth and connection. Senior living communities are no exception. In fact, it may be even more important to nurture a sense of gathering, as older adults may be susceptible to loneliness during […]
The holiday season is a time when many different cultural traditions come together. People of all backgrounds are united by their desire for warmth and connection.
Senior living communities are no exception. In fact, it may be even more important to nurture a sense of gathering, as older adults may be susceptible to loneliness during the seasonal holidays. Feasts and festive gatherings can take a new form with all sorts of family, from fellow residents to community visitors.
Christmas or Thanksgiving activities for the elderly are always an opportunity to create new happy memories. Caregivers can help older adults experience the joy of the season with festive activities for seniors.
The best part of this season is that there’s always room for new traditions. Here’s how senior living communities can cultivate a feeling of merriment and boost their residents’ overall quality of life.
The winter holidays are a classic time for romance and family gatherings, as evidenced by decades of pop culture. Countless songs focus on togetherness, whether around the table or under the mistletoe. Seasonal advertising urges people to spend time with loved ones.
It’s crucial to help older adults participate in and enjoy these themes, from friendship to romance! In this AARP study, 31 percent of respondents said they’d experienced a feeling of loneliness during the holiday season.
Seniors need a caring community in the spirit of the season — one that nurtures new opportunities to connect and create, rather than trying to replace what they may have lost. Plan some festive activities that can make their happy holiday wish come true.
To ward off feelings of loneliness and isolation, help older adults get actively engaged during the festive season.
Senior living communities can cultivate a sense of care and companionship within their communities, regardless of whether other family members are present. You can create new traditions — with a hearty helping of nostalgia!
Even if seniors are in touch with family and friends, it’s helpful to expand their social circle. A Harvard Medical School study found that older adults who participated in wider community activities had higher energy levels and better moods.
Here are some activities for seniors sure to put them in the holiday mood:
Holiday traditions usually revolve around togetherness and appreciation, which are wonderful themes of hope no matter which holidays one celebrates.
Senior living communities or caregivers should respect these traditions, and enable seniors to celebrate in a way that is meaningful to them.
“The dates of the holidays don’t change just because someone moves into a senior living community,” says Michelle Mindock, community relations director at Tribute at The Glen. “We celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day and Christmas on Christmas Day, unlike many other senior living communities. Our team members bring our own families and we celebrate with our residents. They are also our family.”
Here are some ways to bring those rituals to life in a safe and accessible way.
The winter season has a remarkable variety of holidays, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Christmas, and Las Posadas. Many people also celebrate in a secular fashion.
Even if seniors don’t have access to a church or temple, they can still have avenues for spiritual fulfillment.
Especially in senior living communities, it’s important to honor and acknowledge everyone’s traditions. The diversity is amazing fodder for new holiday activities:
These holiday fusion activities create a dual sense of care and companionship: opportunities to honor one’s traditions and make new friendships that will last beyond the season.
Be sure to invite families from the greater community to senior living holiday events as well. The more, the merrier! For example, Cadence at Olney is hosting Breakfast with Santa on December 2, 2023, featuring a waffle bar, omelet station, kids’ crafts, and family holiday movies.
Older adults may feel lonely during the winter season. Creating new wintertime traditions has immense physical and psychological benefits and can boost seniors’ quality of life even beyond the holidays.
Caregivers can tap into beloved holiday traditions to forge a stronger community — one that nourishes seniors’ mental, social, and spiritual wellness. It’s truly the spirit of the season!
No matter which holiday your loved ones celebrate, there’s a festive variety of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas activities for seniors. See what joy you can spread this winter, whether you’re celebrating with your older loved one or working in an elderly care community.
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At Cogir, we’ll be doing our part to help older adults enjoy the most wonderful time of the year! Five senior living communities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area – Tribute at One Loudoun in Ashburn, VA; Tribute at The Glen in Woodbridge, VA; Tribute at Black Hill in Germantown, MD; Tribute at Melford in Bowie, MD; and Cadence Olney in Olney, MD – are part of the Cogir Family of communities. What sets Cogir apart is the company’s devoted approach to creating healthy, vibrant communities that offer residents exceptional independent living, assisted living and memory care lifestyle options. Cogir Senior Living develops, owns and/or operates 60 lifestyle communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.Cogirseniorliving.com.
