Holiday traditions provide comfort and connection. After a loved one moves into a senior living community, many families question how to get through this new transition and holiday experience. Though the change may be daunting and cause feelings of sadness, you can still enjoy the season and feel connected with your loved one. Here, we’ll offer suggestions for adapting family traditions and embracing new ones to help create a sense of joy and warmth for the season with a loved one in senior living. 

Understanding the changes

First, it’s important to understand the changes brought about by a move to senior living and the feelings your older adult loved one may be experiencing. The holiday season can bring up many different emotions for them. Many seniors may feel a sense of loss for the family traditions and holiday celebrations they used to host or attend. They may long for the familiar sights, sounds, smells, and tastes they used to relish during the season. 

The long-standing traditions that once brought comfort may now seem distant or even be unattainable. During the holiday season, seniors may experience increased feelings of loneliness, disconnection from family, and even grief. These feelings may be intensified by the new holiday experience in their senior community. Now, holidays are spent with new people in a new setting with new traditions. The decorations, festivities, and socialization opportunities in the senior community during the holiday season may feel unfamiliar and differ dramatically from their family holiday traditions.

It’s important to recognize the emotions your loved one may be experiencing when approaching the holiday season. This awareness can help guide you as you adapt family traditions and create new ones.

Adapting family traditions

Families can play an integral role in assisting seniors in adapting some familiar holiday traditions to their new living situation. Integrating family traditions can significantly uplift seniors’ spirits. As they feel connected to what feels familiar and traditional during the holiday season, they should feel more assured, comfortable, and connected with their family. 

Here are some ideas on how to adapt these traditions:

Decorations

Holiday decorations can foster warm memories and create a festive atmosphere.

• Bring in familiar decorations from the senior’s home to help make their new space feel familiar during the holiday season.
• Seek their input and assistance in setting up these decorations in their space.
• Consider using festive blankets, pillows, or other items that help the space feel more cozy and seasonal.
• Hang up decorations on their door that reflect the holiday season.
• Simplify decorations for smaller living spaces to avoid clutter, fall hazards, or overstimulation.
• Display family photos of holiday memories and gatherings.

Family visits

Family visits during the holidays help increase comfort and connection.

• If possible, visiting more often during the holiday season can help create new memories and traditions in the senior community.
• During these visits, consider looking at photo albums of past holiday memories, discussing current holiday events and plans, and talking about what traditions the senior might like to incorporate into their new living arrangements.
• Bring familiar holiday treats such as cookies, beverages, or other snacks the senior enjoys if allowed.
• Plan virtual opportunities to connect with distant family members. Have video calls with loved ones who live far away. Share videos of grandchildren’s holiday concerts or performances. Find ways to connect your loved one virtually to religious services or other celebrations they may not be able to attend in person.

Holiday meals

Holiday meals are a favorite holiday tradition that brings family and friends closer. 

• If appropriate and possible, bring your senior family member to the family holiday celebrations they usually attend.
• Send the senior home with leftovers and treats for additional meals or to share with new friends in the senior living community.
• If the senior cannot safely travel to the family holiday meal or celebration, bring some of the meal to them and enjoy it together in their new living space. 
• Some communities may have a separate room to reserve for families to dine together during the holidays.

Holiday gifts

Giving and receiving gifts is a cherished and familiar holiday tradition for many that can be thoughtfully adapted within a senior living community. 

• If you are exchanging gifts with your loved one in senior living, consider what’s appropriate and choose gifts that suit their physical and cognitive abilities.
• Plan a special time to open gifts together, either during visits or virtually, to create that familiar feeling of togetherness and celebration.
• Share a video of gift giving and opening if the senior cannot attend the family gathering in person.
• Dedicate time to discuss and plan any gifts the senior would like to purchase for family members or friends.
• You can help them purchase gifts for others, either during an outing together or through online ordering. You might also offer to buy the gifts for them.
• If the senior traditionally writes holiday cards, make sure they have all the necessary supplies, including cards, addresses, and stamps.
• If needed, offer guidance and assistance in writing the cards so they can maintain this meaningful tradition without adding stress.

Incorporating community activities

Most senior living communities offer and host a variety of festive holiday activities. Engaging in these community activities not only offers much-needed socialization during the holiday season but also helps residents enjoy new traditions within their living environment. 

• Review the calendar of holiday events together and assist with selecting the ones they want to attend. 
• Offer encouragement if they seem hesitant or skeptical about attending.
• Provide reminders and prompts to participate, ensuring they do not miss out on enjoyable activities.
• When possible and appropriate, attend holiday events along with your loved one and enjoy the time together. Participate and attend family gatherings organized by the senior living community such as holiday meals or family parties.

Building new family traditions

Spending time together as a family by creating new holiday traditions can help everyone feel more connected, joyful, and comfortable with the new living arrangements. New traditions can enrich family time during the holiday season and allow seniors to celebrate in their new home with joy and creativity. Here are a few ideas for what might be new family traditions for the holiday season:

• Go on a neighborhood light tour: Organize a family tour of the neighborhoods near the senior living community to enjoy the holiday decorations. If getting out is too taxing, consider walking around the senior living community to look at decorations.
• Decorate premade cookies: Bring premade cookies and cookie-decorating supplies, and get together to decorate them for the holidays. 
• Do holiday crafts: Stop into your local craft supply store and pick up fun and simple holiday crafts you can make together. These crafts can become keepsakes, decorations, or even holiday gifts.
• Plan festive outings: Plan special outings to local holiday attractions or events such as holiday shows, holiday craft fairs, or concerts. Consider planning these outings with your loved one or keeping them as a fun surprise.
• Take a new family holiday photo: Embrace the spirit of the new traditions with a family holiday photo, and repeat this new tradition annually. Get creative with themes, outfits, or locations. 

If you can embrace flexibility and creativity with holiday traditions after your loved one has moved into a senior living facility, families can continue to experience the joy of the holiday season together. Adapting family traditions and creating new ones can help boost the senior’s emotional well-being and enrich the holiday experience for everyone. Incorporating some of these suggestions can help your family have a holiday season filled with love, joy, and cherished memories, no matter the location or circumstances.