Distance doesn’t have to dim holiday joy. Whether your loved one lives in senior living across the country or you can’t travel this season, technology and creativity can help bridge any gap. These ideas help families stay close, especially when someone lives in a senior living community far from home.
Virtual Celebrations That Feel Real
Plan a video dinner party where everyone enjoys the same meal while talking online. You can also send the same cookies to seniors in their housing and eat them together over video. For loved ones in memory care, try shorter video calls instead of long conversations.
You can also host online game nights using easy apps or play charades on video. Bingo is a great choice for groups, including those in assisted living. For more fun, make custom bingo cards with family photos instead of numbers.
Watch movies together by using streaming party features. Start a holiday film at the same time and chat by text or phone while you watch. Many senior living communities have tablets or computers that residents can use for these virtual get-togethers.
Send Pieces of Home
Send advent calendars filled with daily notes, photos, or small treats. Seniors can open one each day and feel connected all season. You can also make “open when” letters for special moments, like “Open when you miss home” or “Open on Christmas Eve.”
Send a box filled with familiar scents, like favorite cookies or potpourri that smells like home. These comforting smells can bring back strong memories, which is especially helpful for those in memory care.
Coordinate Surprise Deliveries
Set up local flower or dessert deliveries to arrive during your phone call. This way, you can share the moment together when the gift arrives. Many senior living communities allow food deliveries, so you can easily send their favorite treat.
Create Shared Experiences
Pick a book to read together and talk about each chapter every week. If your loved one has memory challenges, try sharing photo albums or short stories instead.
You can also go on virtual tours of museums or Christmas markets together online. Many places offer free digital experiences you can enjoy at the same time. Share your screen so you can explore the displays together.
Make Recording Magic
Record yourself reading holiday stories or singing carols. Seniors can listen to these whenever they feel lonely. Hearing familiar voices can be especially comforting for those in memory care.
Make a video with messages from different family members, all put together in one file. Each person can share a favorite memory or holiday wish. These videos often become keepsakes that residents watch again and again.
Bridge the Gap with Mail
Send a postcard every day in December with a quick note, so your loved one gets mail all season. You can write several holiday cards at once and ask the senior living team to deliver one each day.
Include Them in Traditions
Live-stream holiday events such as decorating the tree, baking cookies, or opening gifts. Set up a laptop at the table so your loved one can join you for dinner. This helps seniors feel included and remembered.
Send matching pajamas or holiday sweaters for everyone to wear during video calls. Take screenshots to create new “together” photos, even if you’re far apart. These shared moments mean a lot.
Keep It Simple for Memory Care
For loved ones with dementia, try singing familiar carols, doing simple crafts over video, or looking at old holiday photos together. Short, frequent visits work better than long calls. Singing together can be especially meaningful, since music often stays when other memories fade.
The Heart of the Season
At Claiborne Senior Living communities, we know that family connections are important, no matter the distance. We use technology and creative ideas to help families stay close. Whether your loved one needs assisted living or memory care, our communities offer the support and tools to make virtual celebrations special. Contact us to find out how our caring staff can help keep you and your loved ones stay connected during the holidays.
