Ways to Include Seniors this Holiday Season

Spending time with family is a cornerstone of the holiday season. With older family members living in skilled nursing facilities, it may take some additional thought or preparation to include seniors of varying ability levels in family celebrations.

Knowing how important family is to seniors even when they have trouble expressing it makes the hard work worthwhile. Still, there are challenges such as accommodating diets, challenging behaviors, ambulatory challenges, hearing issues and cognitive abilities that can make including seniors in the holiday fun a daunting task. 

Here are some considerations from some employees at SKLD long term care facilities across Michigan and Ohio to take this season to include senior family members in holiday celebrations at home and at their care facility. 

A Quiet Space 

If you have family coming home to visit, Rachael Stapley, the Life Enrichment Director at SKLD Zeeland recommends finding “a quieter space in the building, whether that be a day room or their room so that their loved one can hear better.” Because many residents have “shorter attention spans or have a tendency to become exhausted more easily, families should pay close attention to their loved one’s body language to determine how long the visit should be.” 

Visit at the Facility 

Besides having family come to visit at home, family is also “welcome and encouraged to join in and participate in scheduled activities. Residents are often very proud of their families and are happy showing them off a little when they come to visit.” It’s important to know your family member and what they are able to handle. Large family groups may be overwhelming and overstimulating for patients with dementia, for example, so having visits in small groups may be a better option. 

Keep Diets in Mind 

While family is a big part of the holiday season, delicious food and treats can make up a large portion of family activities. If someone plans on bringing a treat for their loved one to their care facility, Rachael encourages them “to check with the nurse on their diet to make sure the resident is safe eating what they brought.” 

When family is coming home to celebrate, it’s a good idea to check with the nurse, as well, to see what you can do to make eating easier on your loved one. Kelsey Gray, the activities director at SKLD Muskegon says that “for someone on a mechanical soft dysphasia diet, then milk is your friend! For desserts, if you make a vanilla cake, for example, you can mix it with some milk and add whipped cream on top to make it look more appealing. You can do the same thing with chocolate cake and chocolate milk, too.”

Accessibility at Home

What comes to Kelsey’s mind about family inclusion during the holidays is to bring the celebration “to the most accessible part of the house so it can be easier to stay in one room. You can think outside of the box when in comes to access into the house. Just because the front door has steps doesn’t mean a different door like a slider might be easier.”

Simple Distractions 

Going to a family’s home for the holidays can be way out of a normal routine and may be overwhelming. Kelsey says, “if they are feeling overwhelmed, it is important not to become overbearing even if it is coming from a place of kindness. Give them space and have one person interacting with them until them are a bit more calm.” 

A good response to challenging behaviors is to provide a simple distraction. Kelsey says “a simple distraction can work wonders, sensory objects, pets, songs can really help to calm people when overwhelmed.”

These are just a few of the ways that you can better and more easily include seniors in holiday festivities. If you have any specific questions about senior inclusivity this holiday season, check with your family’s nurse or staff to make this the happiest of holidays for everyone.