Hospitals and nursing homes hold holiday events for their patients, but just like everyone else, some patients will still miss spending the holidays with their friends and family. You can keep your loved one from feeling loneliness during this time by planning a special visit. Share a funny story to make them laugh, because laughter is proven to reduce pain and speed the healing process. Your presence is guaranteed to be their favorite present of the year.
Nursing homes, hospitals, and children’s hospitals plan fun and creative ways for patients to carry out holiday traditions they normally would do at home. For example, Penn Medicine holds an annual event at which children sit on Santa’s lap, eat homemade food, and listen to songs from the Hall-Mercer Consumer Choir.
You don’t need to hold a big event to make the holiday season special for your loved ones in the hospital. Sometimes small and personalized acts of kindness make the biggest impact.
We’ve compiled ten ideas you can do to bring holiday cheer to your friends and family:
- Help with chores at home. Take out the trash, feed the pets, or do laundry
- Transform a hospital or nursing home room by decorating with lights, Christmas cards, and a small artificial tree
- Visit your friend or family member and offer to Skype other people the patient would like to talk to
- Cook a holiday meal or their favorite food, after approving it with their doctor
- Work with the music therapy department at the hospital, or bring in musicians to play holiday songs
- Visit a nursing home and volunteer to spend time with residents who do not receive visitors often
- Collect toy donations and distribute to kids staying in the hospital
- Have a Christmas movie marathon
- Bring board games or non-physical activities you know they enjoy—such as card games and puzzles
- Share the phone number to their room so other friends and family can call if they are unable to visit
There really is nothing like being home for the holidays. Whatever contribution you make to your loved one, it is guaranteed to be appreciated and remembered for many holiday seasons to come.