Staying Connected to Our Senior Loved Ones This Holiday Season

Christmas lights, caroling, cookies, and gingerbread houses: our senior residents are really getting in the holiday spirit here at Canyon Creek! From Christmas parties, to holiday movies, to holiday concerts, we make every effort to make the holidays special for our seniors. Don't forget to take a look at our monthly activities calendar for all the details!

A Time for Connection

The holiday season is a time to connect with our community, our friends, and our families. It's a time to celebrate all of the love that is around us making sure our loved ones know how much we appreciate and adore them. How can you make your senior loved ones feel extra special this holiday season?

Ways to Help Seniors Feel Extra Special This Holiday Season

Plan a Visit

Of course, the very best way to stay connected to your senior loved ones over the holidays is to plan a time to visit. If your senior loved one lives in an assisted living community like Canyon Creek, there are many ways to get involved and celebrate with us!

If your senior loved one lives out-of-state and you aren't able to see them as often as you would like, there are still many ways to stay connected. Even if for some reason you are unable to visit during the holidays, calling the senior and telling them about the next time you'll see them will give them so much to look forward to!
 

Create a Senior Care Package

If you've ever received a care package you know how special and comforting this feels!

Fill the package with things that will make your senior feel loved and comforted. Items that activate the five senses, such as a favorite candy or perfume, or a soothing eye mask, can be very comforting. Or fill the package with more sentimental items that help stir up happy memories, such as a favorite book, a family photo, a beloved ornament, or one of their favorite CDs.

A great idea is to enclose all of the items in a beautiful box that the senior can keep in their room. This way they can re-open it whenever they like and be instantly reminded of how much they are loved and adored.

Send a Card

These days it seems like nearly everything has gone digital, but snail mail and handwritten letters still have a very special place in this world, especially for those who did not grow up in the age of technology. Sending a card or a letter to a senior loved one will trigger happy memories and give them something to hold onto, another reminder of how much they are loved.

Pictures Pictures Pictures!

As the saying goes: "A picture is worth a thousand words." Whenever you see your senior loved one or send them something in the mail, try and include at least one picture! The photos you share with them can be of a recent family gathering, or they can be of close friends or relatives. Seniors adore seeing pictures of their family, children, and grandchildren, as it fills them with a deep sense of joy and pride.

Reminisce

When you visit your senior loved one or speak with them over the phone, remind them about some of your favorite memories together. Play their favorite music or bring pictures to remind them of some of their happiest memories. Stirring up positive memories keeps seniors feeling happy and connected.

Pick Up the Phone - or Face Time!

Even if you only have 10 minutes to spare, picking up the phone and calling your senior loved one will make their day! And if your senior lives in an assisted living home, coordinate with the staff to have them help your senior loved one set up Skype or FaceTime with you - this way they can see your face while hearing your voice!

Stay Active

Encourage your senior loved one to go outside and get some fresh air. When you're visiting, suggest doing something outside - even if it's just to sit out on the patio for a few minutes. The sunshine and some healthy physical activity can do wonders when it comes to boosting one's mood!

Celebrate With Us!

If your senior loved one lives at Canyon Creek Senior Living, be sure to join in on all of the family fun we have planned this holiday season and beyond. If you're interested in getting to know more about what it's like to live at Canyon Creek we'd love to hear from you. Contact us to schedule a tour and to learn more about our assisted living services and memory care community.

Happy holidays all!