Image credit: Hamble Heights, Encore Care Homes
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If you have a loved one living in a care home or are just curious about what goes on in a residential setting over the festive period, we’ll take you through some of the ways that care homes celebrate Christmas.
Celebrating the lead up to Christmas in a care home
Celebrating Christmas is more than just the day itself. There are many festive activities that take place in the days, or even weeks, before Christmas Day.
Decorating
Decking the halls is always the best way to kick off the festive season. Care homes celebrate Christmas by decorating communal areas such as living spaces and dining rooms. Residents can also decorate their own rooms too.
Alexandra House’s manager, Terrence Vella, explains that getting residents involved in decorating for Christmas is about more than just hanging some tinsel. “Our goal is to provide our residents with a comfortable and homely atmosphere, and this festive makeover is a big part of that. We want them to feel the joy and warmth of the holidays right here in our care home.”
Entertainment
Entertainment is a regular feature in many care homes. From singers and musicians to animal therapy, there are many different things for residents to enjoy.
Over Christmas, there is a festive spin on the planned entertainment, such as nativity performances from local schools.
Hamble Heights, an Encore care home in Southampton, has hosted indoor snowball fights with the local primary school and the care home residents and staff.
Parties and celebrations
Some care homes offer events like family Christmas parties where loved ones are invited to the care home to celebrate Christmas together.
Festive trips out
From church services to the theatre, there are many Christmas things for residents to enjoy outside of the care home. The team will typically take ideas from residents to find out what they’d like to do over Christmas. If you have a loved one living in a care home, encourage them to share their thoughts and ideas.
Christmas care home crafting
Making homemade decorations, Christmas cards or gifts is a popular activity within care homes. Not only does crafting help residents get into the festive spirit, it also helps to maintain fine motor skills. This is great for older people as well as those living with dementia.
Involving local community
Community is a crucial aspect of life in a care home year round. Like many of us, they focus on a sense of togetherness that little bit more during the festive season.
Ideal Carehomes embraces community spirit across many of its care homes at Christmas. It opens its doors on Christmas Day with an extended invitation to older people in the local community, who would otherwise be spending the day by themselves.
Lyndsay Sard, home manager at Millcroft, said: “No one should feel alone, least of all at Christmas. Our incredible residents and team members want to open their hearts to older people in and around Redditch who may find Christmas to be a difficult time.
“Our guests will be able to enjoy a traditional Christmas meal and relax in a warm and safe home. We’ll be bringing out some classic games and festive movies – we just want everyone to feel part of the family!”
What happens on Christmas Day in a care home?
From an indulgent Christmas dinner to settling down to watch a Christmas movie, Christmas Day in a care home is spent embracing the traditions residents hold dear.
Mevin Sohorye, general manager at Upton Bay, a Barchester care home in Poole, says: “Here at Upton Bay, Christmas Day is incredibly special, we have lots of traditions we all follow. The day starts with Mother Christmas (our Activities Lead, Karen) and Father Christmas (one of our lovely residents) visiting our residents delivering Christmas presents.
“Our residents enjoy a glass of Bucks Fizz and everyone admires the dining rooms which are adorned with beautiful decorations with Christmas music playing to get everyone in the mood. Our post lady Jean empties our post box and delivers letters and cards which are enjoyed by all.”
Festive food
No Christmas is complete without all the edible trimmings. From a specially prepared breakfast to the showstopper Christmas dinner, care home residents can indulge in the festive feasts they fancy.
Chefs and the kitchen team will already be aware of any specific requirements of residents when it comes to mealtimes. This will always be factored into dining plans, ensuring nobody misses out.
At Upton Bay, the team are really pulling out all the stops for this year’s Christmas dinner menu.
“At lunch time our head chef Alain prepares a scrumptious meal. This year the menu is cured salmon fillet with celeriac and fennel salad served with crusty petit pain followed by turkey balotine with apricot, sage and onion stuffing, chipolata sausages wrapped in streaky bacon served with a rich red wine and cranberry jus. Finished off with traditional Christmas pudding served with a rich brandy sauce.
“Crackers are pulled, a selection of fine wines served and everyone enjoys this wonderful feast.”
Activities
Keeping residents engaged and active through a varied activities schedule is a key part of everyday life in a care home.
As with most things, Christmas time is where they up the ante.
Activities could include:
- Board games
- Party games
- Crafting
- Carol singalongs
- Quizzes
- Gift giving
Festive viewing
Settling down to watch TV or a classic Christmas movie is a feature of many people’s Christmas Day. Whether it’s a favourite soap or a Christmas special (did someone mention Call the Midwife?), care home residents can enjoy some festive viewing of their choice over the course of the day.
Reflecting on the importance of Christmas in a residential setting, Mr Sohorye, said:
“Christmas gives us the perfect opportunity to spoil our residents even more than normal! As a team, we feel it is very important that we make Christmas as magical and memorable as possible for everyone at Upton Bay. Of course not everyone celebrates Christmas, but for our residents that want to we spend these days singing, dancing, dressing up, playing games, watching Christmas movies, eating and drinking together.
“It is a time for silliness, fun and laughter, playing games and sharing stories, we just love it and everyone in the team enters into the spirit. We really do think it is the most wonderful time of the year!”
Image credit: Mevin Sohorye, general manager at Barchester’s Upton Bay Care Home
Visiting a care home at Christmas
Families and loved ones are welcome to visit care homes as usual during the Christmas season.
If you have anything specific in mind, it’s a good idea to find out what’s going on in the home and make plans in advance if possible. You could also find out if there are any ‘protected’ times which visitors are advised to avoid.
If you’d like to take your loved one out of their care home at any point over Christmas, speak to care staff beforehand. Wherever possible, they’ll ensure that your loved one can spend time with you safely, still receiving the care and support they need.
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