Holiday Decorating Tips for Senior Living Apartments
The holidays are a time for family and friends to gather, but many seniors miss out on these opportunities. In fact, nearly 44% of senior adults experience periods of loneliness during the holiday season.1 If loneliness persists too long, it can lead to depression, anxiety, and even physical ailments like:- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Obesity
- Weakened immune system
- Hanging wreaths on doorways
- Displaying holiday cards on tables or hanging them on walls
- A nativity creche
- Displaying and tending to poinsettias
- Hanging holiday lights around the home
- Adding holiday-themed blankets and pillows
- Ensure all cords are securely taped down or tucked away to keep walking paths clear
- Consider using battery-operated lights to minimize cord risks
- Opt for flameless candles to eliminate the potential for fires
- Decorate only in easy-to-reach places, or enlist the help of family to hang higher decorations
- By avoiding placing decorations on the floor, you can minimize tripping hazards
More on Safe Holiday Decorating Tips for Seniors
There are plenty of ways to decorate for the holidays and make a senior home look and feel like a Christmas Wonderland. Here are a few more tips for celebrating safely and in style:
Gift Wrap Empty Boxes
If you have extra boxes lying around and need some new ideas for decorating, wrapping empty boxes to place under your tree is a great idea. Get some holiday-themed wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons, wrap various-sized boxes, and place them under the tree or on countertops to avoid creating a tripping hazard.Decorate Your Front Door
Decorating your front door is a fun way to show off your creativity and is a great place to hang wreaths and other holiday-themed decorations. You can cover your front door with wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and battery-operated LED Christmas lights to display your Christmas spirit.Add Holiday-Themed Sundries
Adding holiday-themed knickknacks and sundries around the home is a great way to put you in the holiday spirit. Have family members or team members help with decorating if necessary or give you some ideas for decorating your room. This is a great time to bring out your favorite decorations that you’ve had for years. There are also ways to bring a sense of merriment to the holidays that don’t involve decor. Some of these celebratory options are:- Playing holiday music and watching holiday-themed movies while decorating
- Participate in holiday craft making during our arts and crafts activities
- Have a family member or friend over to help bake Christmas cookies.
- Participate in sing-alongs with the other residents.
