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Festive Activities for Seniors in Nursing Homes

December 20th 2024

The festive season is a time for joy and togetherness, but when loved ones are in a care home, you may wonder what Christmas looks like in residential care. Select Healthcare homes are vibrant and inclusive spaces that cater to a range of needs so no one feels alone during the holidays. To celebrate the season, we’re sharing what our residents have been up to and giving you some examples of festive activities for seniors in nursing homes.

 

Making Christmas Hampers for Charity

Giving back to the community is a heartwarming way to celebrate the season.  Residents can help by sorting items, writing personalised notes, or decorating the hampers. This activity creates a sense of purpose and connection to the broader community. At Rhosyn Melyn Nursing Home, residents got involved in assembling Christmas hampers for a local hospice.

 

Attending Religious Services

When planning Christmas activities for seniors, keeping traditions like attending religious services can be deeply meaningful. If mobility or crowds are an issue, homes can consider streaming a service or arranging a smaller gathering with hymns and prayers. 

 

Festive Quizzes

Hosting a Christmas quiz night featuring holiday-themed questions can be a great source of mental stimulation for elderly residents. You can include trivia about classic Christmas films, songs, and traditions that will spark conversations and laughter. This Christmas quiz for seniors is great for engaging cognitive skills while bringing everyone together for some fun.

 

Make Christmas Cards

Art activities for seniors​ like making and decorating Christmas cards are creative and therapeutic activities. Choose colourful supplies like stickers and simple templates for seniors to decorate. Residents can personalise cards for each other, their loved ones or for the community. This hands-on activity helps maintain fine motor skills and allows our residents to express their creativity.

 

Festive Sing-Alongs

Festive sing-alongs make superb Christmas activities for seniors with dementia. Music has a unique way of connecting people and evoking memories and can be especially therapeutic for those with dementia and memory loss. Why not organise a sing-along featuring classic Christmas carols and festive songs? Using a projector or large-print lyric sheets can make participation easier for everyone. For seniors who prefer listening, playing a selection of their favourite holiday tunes can be just as uplifting.

Christmas Movie Nights

Nothing beats a Christmas movie, but for some seniors, only the classics will do! Watching classic holiday films like It’s a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol can be a nostalgic and calming activity. This shared experience is perfect for fostering a sense of togetherness. Some other vintage Christmas movies include Miracle on 34th Street, Meet Me in St Louis and White Christmas to name a few.

 

Christmas Baking

Cooking and baking can be a delightful way to engage seniors in familiar routines. Simple tasks like mixing ingredients, cutting out cookie shapes, or decorating treats can make them feel involved. For those with dementia, it could be useful to focus on traditional recipes they may have prepared in the past to evoke fond memories. This year, at Rhosyn Melyn Nursing Home, residents got stuck into decorating Christmas cookies with staff. 

 

 

Christmas Games

When choosing fun activities for seniors in nursing homes at Christmas, games will always be a good choice. Traditional games like charades, bingo, or dominoes can be adapted for seniors with different needs. You can also create fun new games like the indoor snowball games played by residents at Rhosyn Melyn Nursing Home. These activities not only provide entertainment but also encourage social interaction (and lots of laughs)

 

Christmas Crafts

Get creative with festive crafts like making tree decorations or your own Christmas Gonks (adorable Scandinavian-inspired decorations). Crafts like decorating baubles or making garlands can be enjoyable while exercising motor skills and allowing elderly residents to showcase their creativity.

 

 

Christmas in the Community

Getting out into the local community during the holiday season can be a refreshing change of pace for care home residents. Festive meals in the community can also be a highlight, whether it’s a cosy meal at a nearby restaurant or afternoon tea at a local cafe. These activities can encourage a connection with the wider community and create lasting memories.   

                                                                                                                                          

 

Tips for Dementia-Friendly New Years Celebrations

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are perfect occasions to celebrate new beginnings in a way that is inclusive and dementia-friendly. Here are a few thoughtful activities for seniors with dementia​ for a fun New Year's Eve celebration.

  • Do an early countdown -  Hosting an early evening countdown with drinks and festive snacks, allows residents to participate without staying up late.

  • Music and nostalgia - Play calming music or familiar tunes that evoke happy memories and encourage gentle dancing, singing or clapping.

  • Memory boards - Create memory boards with photos and mementos to reflect on the year or past New Year’s celebrations. Residents can share stories and reminisce.

  • Simple resolutions - Encourage residents to write or share small resolutions or hopes for the year ahead. These could be as simple as enjoying nature walks or spending time with loved ones.

  • Adapted games - Organise dementia-friendly New Year's Eve games, such as picture-based bingo or simple card games, to get everyone involved in the fun.



At Select Healthcare, we’re dedicated to creating meaningful and inclusive celebrations for every resident, including those with dementia. Our activity coordinators are always finding creative ways to engage residents in festive fun that caters to their individual needs. If you’d like to learn more about how we make holidays special or discuss the care options available, including dementia care and respite care, contact our friendly team today.

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