AGING GRACEFULLY
Making the Holidays Special
It’s that time of year! We have just finished our Thanksgiving celebration and Christmas is just a few weeks away. This is a time to spread and receive joy and love. Together with family and friends, we enjoy good food, gift exchanges and making happy new memories. Unfortunately, for some senior citizens Christmas can be a sad time. Many are alone and do not have friends or family with whom to spend the holiday. I have some suggestions that may make your holiday and someone else’s the best it can be.
Invite an elderly neighbor or couple for a holiday meal with your family. Open your home and your hearts to someone who has no family nearby and is unable to cook a Christmas meal. Having someone who has loved to cook for years help you prepare the meal could be, in itself, a wonderful gift.
Give a helping hand to a senior citizen in your neighborhood to decorate for Christmas. Many older people like to decorate, but simply cannot do so on their own. Spend an afternoon with someone. Help them buy and put up a Christmas tree. A wreath on the door and a few lights outside do wonders in helping a person to get into the Christmas spirit.
There are countless Christmas functions going on throughout the area. Ask an older person to attend a concert or church service with you. A ride to see the lights is always a favorite for most people, but if a person cannot drive, they miss out on this fun time. Make room for one or two more when you make you plans to view the holiday displays in town.
Visit your local retirement homes. Christmas caroling or just a friendly visit during the holidays can bring great joy to individuals who are feeling lonely at Christmas time.
Check with local nursing homes to see if you can bring presents for those residents who do not have family. The staff may be able to give suggestions about items patients may need or enjoy. Small baskets can be made up of necessities and some fun gifts.
The Christmas season is a time for giving and receiving, but as we grow older, we realize the best gift anyone can give is the gift of ourselves. A kind word or a conversation with someone who may be lonely, or just showing compassion and care for our fellow human beings can be the best gifts of all. We sometimes don’t realize how powerful our words and actions can be. We all have the ability to make someone’s life better, and in turn, fulfill our own.
At this time of year, the Farrar Home is full of family and friends enjoying various activities. The community has always played a large role in helping the residents fully appreciate the holidays. I can tell you, from experience, that the suggestions above can make a difference in a person’s life.
We invite you all to celebrate this season at the Farrar Home Christmas Tea and Open House this Sunday from 2pm to 4pm. I wish you a holiday full of peace, love and happiness.
Submitted by Carol McKee, RN, Farrar Home Administrator
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