Follow
Share

I will spend Christmas Day at my husband’s long-term care centre (LTC), where I also volunteer. He is in a dementia unit and I have warm relationships all the residents there. I also want to bring holiday cheer to the residents in the rest of LTC and the hard-working staff.
I’m looking for ideas to help make everyone’s day fun. I am happy to spend money to do this. Once I create a plan, I will review it with the recreation team.
I appreciate this forum greatly and look forward to your collective wisdom on this project.

Find Care & Housing
For being there on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day when the activities staff aren't typically around, I'd keep it low-key with stuff you can manage by yourself. Suggest:

- Coloring pages of Christmas / winter themes
- Caroling/singalong or just playing holiday music
- Decorating premade sugar cookies
- Hosting Christmas movies and shows throughout the day (including Christmas episodes of older TV shows and some of the classic animated kids' Christmas short films)

If you have more time/funds/volunteers, you could stuff small stockings with low-cost items (travel hand lotion, pocket packs of facial tissues, fidget toy, small ornament, etc). Getting volunteers to prep something ahead of time, including treats or gifts, will be easier than finding others willing to join you on the actual holidays.

We'll be visiting my MIL on Christmas Day, and it's a similar situation - they have activities throughout the month and they do a great job, but Dec 24-25 are really for staff to spend time with their own families. We'll bring gifts and food and then go for a car ride (MIL's favorite activity) and look up maps ahead of time of neighborhoods to drive through with good light displays.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to DaughterByLaw
Report

I think that's lovely that you want to bring cheer to this unit - to residents and staff alike.
Please don't try and overdo it. The staff will be busy. Remember, they are on the clock, and they will have patients who need their help. Keep it simple, cheery, maybe bring some decorations, some snacks, keeping in mind some of the residents may not be able to eat certain foods. Bring some cookies for the staff.
Wear a santa hat, and give everyone you see a smile. That will brighten anyone's day!
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to CaringWifeAZ
Report

Special punch with the cookies? Or cider? Sounds like fun!
Helpful Answer (2)
Reply to MomsBrain
Report

You are a very special person to do this! Make sure your plan includes music. For those with dementia, and everyone, it is a great mood adjuster, especially old music they might remember. Encouraging dancing with hands to the music for those who can't stand up. Have fun.
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to ArtistDaughter
Report

Maybe a day of silly and fun games (check Pinterest and YouTube) followed by hot cocoa and chatting about Christmas memories and traditions. Sometimes even those in memory care can remember happy childhood celebrations. Home made treats are always a nice touch. Depending on the size of the facility, gift cards for a free coffee for each the staff working that day would be sweet. A few fresh flower bud vases on the dining tables will last long after the day passes, and will brighten everyone’s day.
Helpful Answer (3)
Reply to SarahMinnesota
Report
PeggySue2020 Dec 7, 2025
Coffee cards are increasingly expensive. Rather, I’d gift staff a 2 dollar scratcher each. Even people who don’t usually buy them will play one for free bought with someone else’s money.
(2)
Report
At DH's memory care last year, a class of piano students was invited to give a recital. They were adorable, all dressed up, ages 7 to 15, and they played Christmas songs on the piano that's there. Everyone enjoyed it. If you have no piano, they could bring a keyboard.

On Christmas Day, residents went outside, and employees' spouses rode past in their cars in a parade. Santa jumped out of the back of a pickup truck and walked around to greet the residents and aides.

There's a group of line dancers who visit and dance for the residents at various times of the year. You could find such a group in your area who might be willing to dance for your LTC. It's always a source of great cheer.
Helpful Answer (5)
Reply to Fawnby
Report
Tina1923 Dec 7, 2025
Bless you.
(1)
Report
Play Christmas music. Find some from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Everyone should have a decoration on their doors. Maybe a little gift to open. Yes, cookies. Some hot choc.
Helpful Answer (6)
Reply to JoAnn29
Report

I’ve never met anyone who didn’t appreciate Christmas cookies. This plan is very kind and thoughtful of you. You husband and the staff are all blessed to have your involvement
Helpful Answer (7)
Reply to Daughterof1930
Report

My MIL's LTC facility had an Activities Director and they put on a program every year. They usually did it about 1-1/2 wks before Christmas on a week day. Does his facility not do this? If not, I agree to first talk to the admins. What a generous gesture on your part! Kudos to you!
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to Geaton777
Report

I would discuss the facilities plans with the administration. As you are a volunteer that's the perfect opportunity. Ask about decorations, and etc. They are the BEST part of all of this, and always were the best part.
Helpful Answer (4)
Reply to AlvaDeer
Report
Chantel60 Nov 29, 2025
Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

To provide context, LTC has an excellent rec team that does a lot leading up to Christmas. Residents really do enjoy seeing the decorations go up. They even participate in making the decorations and cookies and other treats.

However, I have noticed Christmas Day is just another day for residents who don’t have family come to visit. The dementia unit is particularly quiet because most of these residents wake up not even knowing it’s Christmas. And, of course, there are no recreation staff on duty that day.

I know the rec team will appreciate someone on site encouraging Christmas cheer on Dec 25. I’m hoping to bring them some ideas I could perform, which I’m sure they will then enhance.
(4)
Report
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter