For parents in assisted living facilities, the holidays can be an especially difficult time as they think of past Christmases with the whole family gathered together at the family home. However, just because your parents are in an assisted living in South Bay, they don’t have to be alone during the holidays.
There are ways you can celebrate the holidays with them so they don’t feel so lonely.
1. Consult Your Parent First
Making surprise plans may sound exciting but consulting your parents first may be a better idea. If your parents have always organized the traditional dinner during the holidays, they’ll love the idea of still being able to do that. It will make them feel extra special. You can gently suggest new ideas and maybe even recommend starting a new tradition so they have something to look forward to every holiday.
2. Decorate Your Parent’s Apartment Or Room
Most living facilities in South Bay go out of their way to put up decorations and create a festive atmosphere but helping your parents decorate their own room will make it feel even more special to them. Get the kids to create handmade decorations for grandpa and grandma’s room. Paper streamers, hand-drawn cards, and assorted Christmas cut-outs make great hand-made gifts and they are easy too. Grandparents will cherish these more than store-bought decorations.
3. Participate With Your Parent In Activities Offered At The Community
Call the assisted living facility and get details about the activities they are organizing for the residents. Most facilities organize multiple events over several days and families are usually encouraged to attend. Try to participate in at least one if not more of these activities along with your parents. Take the grandkids along. Nothing brings more joy to older people than spending time with their grandchildren.
4. For Family Living Far Away, Arrange Video Chats
If you live too far away from South Bay to visit personally, you can still help allay their loneliness during the holidays by arranging regular video chats. Find out the timings of their holiday activities so you are not calling at that time. While your parents would love to speak to just you, try and get the whole family together at least once so they can speak to all of you. It’ll feel extra special and not just another call like any other day.
5. Plan A Mini Party For Your Parent’s Friends And Neighbors In The Community
Not everyone lives close enough to South Bay to be able to visit their parents personally. For those residents who do not have any family nearby, this can be a particularly lonely time. Why not plan a mini party for all residents on behalf of your parents? The holidays are as much about giving as about celebrating. Hosting a party for all the residents of the community helps you achieve both and can be immensely satisfying for everybody involved. It does not have to be on a grand scale. Just do what you can.
