In just a few short days, Christmas will be here. It’s an exciting time for families, and a wonderful time to enjoy holiday traditions with those closest to us. Traditions don’t have to always stay the same, and creating new traditions with family is a fun way to bring everyone together this holiday season.
Below are some ideas for holiday traditions you can incorporate with your family this year!
Look at the Menu
Holiday cooking and baking can be tiring and stressful. If your family prepares a traditional holiday meal, make it a group effort! You can supervise, while children and grandchildren learn the secrets to making those favorite family recipes!
Mix it Up
The later the time of day, the more everyone – from young children to older adults – starts to get tired from a long day full of activities. Why not plan a holiday brunch rather than a dinner, or attend a daytime Christmas Eve service instead of the evening one?
Think Simple
You may love seeing the family home all decked out for the season but hauling boxes of decorations may become difficult for older adults struggling with mobility. Get together with family and friends and decide which holiday decorating traditions to keep and what to forego and then assign tasks accordingly. It is a great opportunity to invite your children and grandchildren over to help decorate and make memories that will last a lifetime!
Lend a Hand
If medical issues make it difficult to write cards or wrap presents, recruit someone in the family to come over and join you!
Compensate When Necessary
If hearing impairment keeps anyone in the family from enjoying the annual holiday movie, check out the latest sound enhancement technology. If a parent or grandparent is having trouble seeing the deck of playing cards, look for large print cards or activities that can help keep them in the game.
Hit the Road
You remember as a child – those holiday light tours that you and your parents loved. A holiday driving tour is an easy way to bring back the memories and joy for the whole family!
Go Virtual
Distance can separate older adults from loved ones, which can worsens loneliness, isolation and depression during the holidays. Use the latest technology to help an stay connected to loved ones from afar this holiday.
Relive Memorable Moments
Older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will especially appreciate opportunities to connect with old memories. Listen to favorite carols and ask your loved one to share their most cherished holiday memories.
Gift Exchange
Save money and time but focus on showing appreciation for your loved ones. Each family member gets assigned another one at random and writes a heartfelt letter to that person. After everyone exchanges letters, have some fun and play a game as a group.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Holiday gatherings with family members are the perfect time to pull out photo albums and watch old home videos from past holidays! Share stories with your grandchildren of old memories while making new memories with them.
For those who have parents or other loved ones newly living in a senior living community, it might be time to adapt some of your family traditions to accommodate these changes. This holiday season, consider the following:
Opening Presents
If your loved one isn’t able to be with your family when opening presents, ask the children to select their favorite gift to bring and show to their loved one. If the gift is too large or cannot be brought along, they can take a picture of it on a parent’s phone and show it to their loved one.
Decorating for the Holidays
If your loved one lives in a senior living community, ask if there are any restrictions. Many communities put limitations on decorating due to facility upkeep or safety precautions. Display framed pictures of past holiday gatherings.
Bring Joy with Holiday Feasts and Treats
Food is a significant part of any holiday season. If a loved one lives in a senior living community, consider making a reservation, if needed, for a family gathering to eat and visit. Older adults who live at home alone might want to participate as much as possible in preparing a holiday meal. Offer to help to reduce stress.
Family Recipes
If your loved one used to cook or bake, talk about their favorite dishes to cook for the holiday. Work together to write out the recipe for a dish or two, then make copies and give them to family members as gifts.
Home for the Holidays
If your loved one lives in a senior living community, consider bringing them home to spend time with you this holiday season. They might sit and chat with you while you wrap gifts or entertain the children with a holiday movie.
As much as people look forward to the holidays, it can bring challenges to family members as well. How do I make the holiday special for my loved ones? Will this be their last Christmas at home? Is it time to start considering alternative living and care options for my loved one? If you are thinking about these questions or asking other family members, it may be time to look into moving your loved one to a senior living community.
The Ohio Masonic Communities campuses offer three senior living communities across the state of Ohio – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio. Each community provides premier living options with exceptional experiences so older adults can live their best lives and thrive. If you are interested in learning more about one of our communities, give us a call at 1-877-881-1623 or schedule a visit.