How To Celebrate Important Events With Your Loved One in a Nursing Home

Recently, Beaver Dam Nursing Home resident Rava Lindsey celebrated her 104th birthday. Sharing in her special day were Rava’s 11 children, 33 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren, 117 great-great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-great-grandchildren. Gathering the entire family is one of the best ways to celebrate important events with your loved one in a nursing home.

Sometimes, nursing home residents feel isolated and alone. They have lived their entire life independently but now find themselves in need of support. The goal is to provide a comfortable standard of living where they can enjoy their golden years surrounded by helpful staff and new friends. Even in a nursing home, there will be plenty of opportunities to create wonderful memories.

According to the Pew Research Center, around 101,000 people have reached the milestone of 100 years old. Thanks to medical advances and improved quality of care, that number is expected to go up. Of course, every birthday deserves to be celebrated.

Below, we provide some helpful suggestions for how you and your family can make the most out of the holidays, birthdays, and other special celebrations with your loved ones.

Hang Up Decorations

No matter what type of celebration you’re hosting, there will always be decorations to add to their living space. You don’t need to go over the top, but a few well-placed banners, balloons, and other touches will add a festive air to the celebration. For example, if you celebrate Christmas, you can put up a small artificial tree and some colorful lights.

Make a Favorite Meal

Everyone has a favorite meal. That might be a recipe passed down in the family or from the menu of a special restaurant. You can bring that meal on the day of the special event to share with your loved one. There might also be some unique baked goods or treats you can bring and leave behind for your loved one to enjoy so they continue to feel your presence even after you’ve left their side.

Share Special Photos

There will always be photos taken of past special occasions. Sharing those photos for a birthday party or holiday is a wonderful way to stir up happy memories. You can put together a scrapbook or photo album of these photos so your loved one can look at them whenever they want to reminisce. You might also consider setting up a digital photo frame that displays the family photos on a continuing loop.

Take Part in Facility Events

The nursing home where your loved one lives will always have recurring event celebrations. You and your family should consider participating in those gatherings. You could also pitch in and volunteer to help set them up and co-host with the staff.

Ask a Friend to Visit

If your schedule prevents you from attending a milestone event, you can ask a friend to visit your loved one. They might be able to set up a virtual greeting on a laptop or tablet.

Whenever you celebrate at the nursing home, you can include some of the staff who positively impact your loved one’s comfort. You can share those special treats or a slice of cake with the caregivers. It is a small gesture of gratitude that will be much appreciated. Commemorating special events with your loved one is a way to carry on family traditions.