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12 Days of Christmas ideas for Nursing Home to Keep Residents Merry and Engaged

12 Days of Christmas ideas for Nursing Home

Christmas will forever be appreciated for positivity, reflection, and togetherness. For nursing home residents, this holiday can make a big difference when properly organized.

Aside from working to uplift the spirit and moods of residents, bringing the festive spirit to nursing homes will in many ways aid in cultivating a sense of community and engagement.

As such, you might want to consider a “12 Days of Christmas” theme that will provide residents and the nursing home with an extended celebration period that will cater to varying interests, abilities, and moods.

If this is an idea you are willing to entertain, below is a comprehensive day-by-day guide for putting together such activities.

12 Days of Christmas ideas for Nursing Home

Day 1: Deck the Halls Together

This is the first day in the 22 days of exemplary enjoyment and fun. You can start it off by getting residents involved in decorating the nursing home’s communal spaces. You don’t have to make it very complicated but ensure that its engagement factor is high.

This will ensure residents feel like they’re part of the festivities. You can make available pre-purchased or homemade ornaments, garlands, Christmas lights, and wreaths.

If possible, seek ways to inculcate a crafting session where residents are provided with materials to make their own ornaments, garlands, or paper snowflakes.

Day 2: Christmas Carol Karaoke

Do not underestimate the importance of music when it comes to sparking emotions and memories. On this day, make arrangements for carol singing and karaoke to spread holiday cheer. You only have to put together a karaoke machine or leverage a speaker system with a microphone.

Make sure to go with a playlist of classic Christmas carols, and make it possible for residents to sing their favorite tunes.

You can as well go the extra mile by inviting local school choirs, church groups, or musicians to perform live for the residents.

Day 3: Gingerbread House Decorating Contest

Another very fun activity, you can make the third day a day residents will always remember by baking and decorating gingerbread houses.

Aside from being a well-known holiday tradition, note that it is a good way to encourage teamwork and creativity. Start by making available pre-bake gingerbread pieces, or using gingerbread kits.

Provide icing, candy decorations (such as gumdrops, peppermints, and chocolate chips), as well as other edible embellishments.

Separate residents into small groups and ensure they work together to decorate their gingerbread houses.

You can spice it up by making available awards for categories such as “Most Festive,” “Most Creative,” or “Best Traditional House.” Don’t forget that some residents might require help with dexterity-related tasks.

Day 4: Letters to Loved Ones

This is one activity that will prove to be as reflective as it is heartwarming. Keep in mind that a good number of residents in nursing homes tend to have limited contact with family.

Owing to that, writing letters is a good way to help them connect with loved ones. This is possible by making available stationery, pens, markers, and stamps.

If the facility houses residents who have trouble writing on their own, caregivers or volunteers should be available to help them. If you can, you might want to take a festive photo of each resident and include it in their letters.

Day 5: Holiday Movie Marathon

One reason to consider a holiday movie marathon is that it is a relaxing yet engaging activity that works to cultivate a sense of community among residents.

However, take great care when selecting the movies, go with classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, White Christmas, and Home Alone.

Organize or install a projector or large TV in a common room, and make good plans for comfortable seating. Never forget snacks like popcorn, hot cocoa, and Christmas cookies.

Once a movie finishes, consider a brief group discussion that will give room for residents to share memories or thoughts related to the film.

Day 6: Christmas-themed Bingo

Bingo is an easy and enjoyable game among nursing home residents, and this means that you have a good opportunity to add a festive twist.

Rather than the usual numbers on the bingo cards, you can design yours with Christmas-themed icons, such as Santa, reindeer, snowflakes, and presents. You just have to call out the symbols rather than numbers.

Be sure to offer small holiday-themed prizes, like ornaments, candy canes, or warm socks, to take the game up a notch. This game will work to boost mental stimulation as well as ensure that residents remain engaged.

Day 7: Ornament Crafting Session

It is important to note that nursing home residents relish the opportunity to showcase their creativity, and an ornament-making session could prove to be a fun and easy way to do this.

Start by making available materials like felt, beads, ribbons, and glitter, as well as simple craft kits. This will enable residents to make tree ornaments, door hangers, or festive table decorations.

Make sure to encourage them to come up with personalized ornaments that will be used to decorate their rooms or to give as gifts to family or staff members.

Day 8: Cookie Baking and Decorating

There are only very few things in life that can be compared to the sweet smell of Christmas and freshly baked cookies.

Using one day to bake and decorate cookies will ensure that residents can relish old memories of their own holiday kitchens.

Make sure to plan a baking session where residents are allowed to lend a hand, maybe by cutting out cookie shapes or decorating pre-baked cookies.

Consider making use of festive cookie cutters such as Christmas trees, stars, and stockings. Ideally, staff can aid with the baking, and residents can focus on decorating the cookies with icing and sprinkles.

Day 9: Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Secret Santa gift exchange works to build a sense of community, as well as ensure that residents get the opportunity to enjoy the pleasure that comes with giving and receiving.

This more or less entails coordinating a drawing where each resident randomly picks another’s name for whom they will get a small gift (with an affordable price limit).

You can provide the wrapping paper and decorations to ensure that residents can wrap their gifts. You can also choose to combine it with a small party where residents are allowed to present gifts in a warm, social setting.

Day 10: A Visit from Santa and His Elves

This is one way to ensure that you are giving residents lasting memories of the magic of Christmas. You can organize a special visit from Santa and his elves. Start by making plans for staff members or volunteers to dress as Santa and elves.

They will have to come with small gifts or candy to give to each resident. Don’t forget to offer each resident a chance to take pictures with Santa, as this will leave them with a fun photo keepsake.

Day 11: Christmas Light Tour

For some people, seeing Christmas lights remains one of the best moments of the Christmas holiday season. As such, you might want to put together a tour of local light displays for residents.

If possible and if the resources are available, it is recommended you take residents on a scenic bus ride so they can have a good view of holiday light displays in local neighborhoods or parks.

If it is not possible, you can proceed with showing them videos or virtual tours of impressive Christmas lights on a large screen within the facility’s common area.

Day 12: New Year’s Wish Tree

With the 12 days of Christmas at its tail end, you would want to get residents ready for the New Year by putting together a “Wish Tree.” This is quite simple since you just have to mount a small tree or display it in the common area.

Make sure residents get colorful cards or paper where they can pen down their wishes, hopes, or reflections for the New Year.

One thing to note is that this activity works to encourage reflection on the past year as well as hopes for the future.

You will find that a good number of residents share goals, whereas some others prefer to pen down messages of gratitude or prayers.