Top Holiday Activities You Can Enjoy at the Nursing Home
When you visit a loved one at the nursing home during the holidays, you can take along some fun things to do. This will make your loved one feel like part of the holiday celebration and make your visit warmer. By spending time with them too, this lets them know that they are loved and are still very much part of the family.
Below are some activities that you may wish to share when you spend time your family member this holiday season:
Paint a Sun Catcher
Sun catchers are a lot of fun to do. They can be bought at a craft store or even at the dollar store. They are packaged several ways; one way is as singles with one sun catcher and the paint that comes with it. Or you can purchase the sun catchers by themselves and the paint separately – this gives you more of a selection in both color and sun catchers. The other option is to buy several in a package and the paint included as a kit. Any of these ways will work; it’s just your preference. Now this kind of holiday fun is good if your loved one loves to paint. You and your family member can just sit at a table, using the special paint and paint the sun catchers however you want. Once dry, they can be hung in your loved one’s window for the sun to come shining through, and to remind them of the fun you shared together making them.
Make a Memory Box
If you know a person who suffers from Alzheimer’s, making them a Memory Box is a lovely idea. You create a box; it can be a shoebox decorated or even a small wooden box from a craft store that is decorated. Inside you place mementoes that will trigger happy memories for him or her. Maybe a silk flower of a favorite plant or a photo of a place that was pleasant. What about a postcard from a trip that was once taken? The idea is to have your special friend open the box and then listen to the stories about the memories the items bring about.
Listen to Music
Bring along a portable CD player or iPod and play old songs that you know are their favorite songs. You can even print out the lyrics so everyone can sing along. Some people with Alzheimer’s may not be able to speak but sometimes they can still sing.
Go for a Stroll
If your family member can walk or if he or she is in a wheelchair, taking a stroll around the nursing home and enjoying the holiday decorations is a great idea. Try to find scented items, for example a cinnamon broom, and let your loved one smell the scent. Scents can trigger pleasant memories.
Call Other Family Members
Bring along your laptop and Skype or FaceTime other family members. Everyone can talk on the computer in real time. It’s not quite as good as a visit in person, but it can be a close second.
These are only a few suggestions to help you and your loved one enjoy the holidays while at a nursing home.
SeniorAdvisor.com Staff
Senior Advisor's knowledgeable writers blog about senior care services, trends and more.