Facilities for Alzheimer's and Celebrating the Holidays

Exploring Holidays Beyond Christmas

While Christmas is probably the most celebrated holiday, celebrations like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year are also commemorated to honor the diverse community of residents in facilities for Alzheimer’s. Celebrating these holidays would allow residents to acknowledge each unique tradition and background. Exploring other Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year fosters empathy and brings joy to senior residents while at the same time learning and understanding their stories.

Hannukah, or the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration commemorating the re-dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem. Jewish families gather to light a candle each night and enjoy traditional Jewish food. Hannukah is all about God’s providence and protection of the Jewish people. This Jewish holiday is also about standing up for what is right, resilience, and faith.

Meanwhile, Kwanzaa is an African holiday from December 26 to January 01, created by African scholar and activist Maulana Karenga in 1966. For Kwanza, you light a Kinara, a wooden candle holder with each candle representing the seven principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Economic Cooperation, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Emphasizing and honoring its African heritage, Kwanzaa is all about feast, music, and storytelling.

Who does not celebrate New Year? This global holiday marks fresh beginnings, a time of hope and optimism. New Year is all about setting new goals, correcting past mistakes, dreaming big, and looking forward to continuing life with renewed faith. Parties, music, countdowns, and fireworks are often associated with New Year celebrations.

These holidays are unique and beautiful. They are meant to be shared with families and loved ones, including those in Alzheimer’s facilities.

How Facilities for Alzheimer’s Can Create Inclusive Celebrations

Assisted living communities must embrace residents’ diverse cultures to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. These holiday festivities allow residents to socialize and feel happy and included, combating loneliness and isolation. Including these festivities in the yearly activities shows respect for diversity and fosters a feeling of belonging.

Memory care facilities can learn about their residents’ diverse backgrounds through surveys, open talks, or direct speaking with them. This way, management and staff can design and prepare events appropriate for each holiday, including decorations, activities, performances, sessions, and other related programs.

Remember to actively seek feedback from residents to improve future events. Creating an inclusive environment for residents promotes and strengthens relationships, creating a sense of unity that contributes to well-being.

Engaging residents in learning and sharing

Embracing diversity allows each one to celebrate each one’s unique religious and non-religious practices. Residents should not hold back in fear of discrimination. Instead, residents in facilities for Alzheimer’s must feel comfortable and welcomed regardless of age, color, background, religious beliefs, or nationality.

Residents must feel comfortable sharing and engaging, fostering connection and understanding. Memory care facilities can organize cultural nights, storytelling sessions, and food festivals to encourage residents to share and showcase their unique culture and traditions.

Arts and crafts, learning a new language, or themed events would encourage residents to participate, spark new interest, and provide fresh perspectives.

Fun and Value for Everyone in Facilities for Alzheimer’s

By promoting sharing and learning, facilities for Alzheimer’s offer an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued. Learn about life at OxBow Living by clicking here!

Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead