With one month to go until the big day, you may well be wondering how your loved one can be included in your family celebrations while having Christmas in nursing care.
Celebrating Christmas all together can be challenging, so we hope our advice relieves your worries and gives you some good ideas.
Talk to the nursing care team
The first stop to allay any concerns about Christmas in nursing care is to the care team themselves. We have plenty of experience of extended families and those living apart from one another at this time of year, so we’ll have lots planned to help them celebrate here at Ash Lodge – do ask us if you’d like to know more. There will be planned activities and events in the run up to Christmas, the day itself and of course New Year, so feel free to ask which days are the best for visiting, or which activities you can join us for.
If your loved one is new to Ash Lodge, feel free let us know what their favourite traditions, food and drinks are, so we can make them feel right at home at this special time of year.
Christmas events and activities they’ll look forward to
There is so much we can do to celebrate, and our events and activities manager has got a long list of lovely festive things to do. Over the years, we’ve done:
- Floral table centrepieces
- Baking
- Card and goodie bag making
- A Christmas fete
- Visits to the local garden centre to see the displays (and have a cuppa)
- Welcomed the local primary school for carols
- Enjoyed live music and singers
- And of course, decorating the home and bedrooms.
But worry not, among all of this going on there is plenty of time for you to come and spend time with your loved one – as often as you like, including Christmas Day itself.
Visiting your loved one on Christmas Day
We will have plans for the big day, including eating a traditional lunch, playing games and exchanging gifts, so if you’d like to visit please make sure you check with us when the best time would be.
Your loved one may also be able to travel to your home to celebrate Christmas, depending on their needs at the time, so again please check with the nursing team before making plans.
We want everyone to have a wonderful time at Christmas, so we do our very best to make sure families can be together and enjoy each other’s company.
And finally, don’t put added pressure on yourself
We all have families, and we all understand the pressure that Christmas can bring, especially if you’re experiencing loss, have moved away from your familiar home or are coming to terms with a parent’s new needs.
Christmas is hectic enough without putting added pressure on yourself to be with a loved one. It might not be the same as it was before, but Christmas in a nursing home isn’t all doom and gloom – it’s bright, fun and filled with joy and laughter.
So, take the pressure off, plan realistically and if you can’t make it for that one day of the year, it’s OK, there are plenty of other days you can celebrate the festive season on!
