Celebrating the Holiday Season in Assisted Living Facilities
While restrictions have been eased since the vaccine rollout, many residents still cannot go out and will remain inside assisted living facilities. This means your loved one will miss traditional family activities everybody used to share and enjoy before.
Fortunately, senior housing facilities now accept family visitors; hence, you can now celebrate the holiday together. Bring in the fun and make the holiday celebration nostalgic, fun, and comforting.
Aside from Christmas celebrated by Christians, other religions observe Hanukkah or Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and Thanksgiving. Regardless of your religion, there is always something to celebrate about starting on the fourth Thursday of November until the last days of December.
Thanksgiving in Assisted Living Facilities
Thanksgiving has been celebrated in the United States. The first Thanksgiving celebration happened in 1621 when Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans celebrated an autumn harvest feast.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the national Thanksgiving Day to be commemorated every November.
Dinner, decorations, music, and gift-giving are familiar activities and sights during the Thanksgiving holiday. But it won’t hurt to try new activities to mark the occasion.
Of course, do not forget the classic dishes including stuffed turkey, mashed potato, and pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving dinner for the family to enjoy.
Help your loved ones in assisted living facilities decorate their private spaces with Thanksgiving-themed pieces. Bring back younger memories through their favorite music. Pen a heartfelt gratitude letter or give your loved one that special gift he/she will always cherish.
Add a little twist to your celebration by adding non-traditional recipes like baked brie with cranberries and pomegranate, apple and honey tarts, balsamic cranberry roast chicken, or glazed lamb chops.
Kwanzaa in Assisted Living
Some people honor their heritage by celebrating Kwanzaa every December 26th to the 1st of January. The weeklong celebration is a combination of several different African celebrations and activities like singing, dancing, poetry reading, storytelling, and feasting.
Residents in assisted living facilities can celebrate Kwanzaa by preparing Mazao, a combination of nuts, fruits, and vegetables on a placemat. Or re-create the sun’s power by lighting 3 red candles, 3 green candles, and 1 black candle placed on a kinara (candle holder).
Hanukkah in Assisted Living
Hanukkah or Festival of Lights is a Jewish festival that lasts for 8 days in December. Senior residents can commemorate the feast by lighting candles on each evening of the festival, reading scriptures daily, almsgiving, and hymn singing.
Christmas in Assisted Living
Christmas is a universal holiday from the Christian faith. However, Christmas has changed dramatically over the years that even non-Christians recognized the festivity every year. Today, the celebration of Christmas without reference to faith, religion, or sect is common.
Regardless of your religion, Christmas is the season of love and giving. It is a season of giving back to the community, to the less fortunate.
It is also the time of the year where people spend the most time with family and friends.
Are you looking for Assisted Living Facilities that offer the right level of care for you? Contact us at Fallbrook Assisted Living today to learn more about us.
Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper
