How to Celebrate Thanksgiving with Your Loved One in Assisted Living

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, enjoying delicious meals, and spending time with family. It's a great time to reminisce about old memories as well as make new ones. If you have a loved one in an assisted living facility, you may be wracking your brain trying to think of ways you can make Thanksgiving more enjoyable for your loved one, as well as the entire family. Having a loved one in senior housing may pose some changes to your traditional celebrations, but now you can make new traditions in order to accommodate the needs of your loved ones. 

Some ideas to help you celebrate Thanksgiving with your loved one in an assisted living facility include: 

Seniors tend to feel alone and isolated while in senior housing. This increases even more during the holiday season, which can grow into an immense amount of depression. The most important thing you can do during Thanksgiving is to plan a visit to their senior living community to help prevent your loved one from having these feelings. Use this time to share old memories, laugh, have fun, and make new memories. Not only will this make your loved ones feel less alone, but it will create a sense of familiarity for them which is especially comforting in seniors with memory issues.

No one is saying you HAVE to do the same things you are used to doing. Break outside of the normal traditions and create a personalized celebration with your loved ones based on their abilities and comfort. If they would prefer a more intimate, quiet gathering then that's okay. You could bring some Thanksgiving décor with you to help set the tone or bring in their favorite foods as this may boost their mood.

Discuss the upcoming holiday with the staff at your loved one's assisted living facility. Ask what they allow including on-site gatherings in a communal space, bringing in outside food and drinks, and other ideas you may have to make this celebration a happy one for loved ones. Ask if the facility planned festivities for the holiday and encourage your loved one to participate as this may help them feel a sense of belonging within their community.

At Buena Vista Manor House, serving the San Francisco, CA area, we strive to make Thanksgiving a happy time for our residents. We strive to keep your loved ones safe and protected while they are with us. Let us help you make Thanksgiving a memorable experience as you and your family prioritize quality time with your loved ones. Contact us today for any questions you may have about upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations or our senior living community.