6 Ways to Celebrate Easter in Assisted Living
With the sun shining and winter finally beginning to loosen its grip, it’s the perfect time to celebrate spring and the Easter season. And, just like other special holidays and occasions, it’s possible to maintain your favorite Easter traditions (or create new ones) while living in an assisted living facility.
In addition, if you are the loved one of someone in an assisted living facility, please don’t forget to extend your special traditions to include them, even if it’s only for a short visit. After all, spending time with loved ones is one of the best parts of celebrating holidays, and everyone appreciates feeling loved and remembered.
Here are six festive and easy ideas to make this Easter season especially enjoyable when celebrating in an assisted living facility.
1. Check the community calendar.
Many communities do an excellent job of planning holiday-specific events for their residents, so check with the facility’s activity coordinator to see what activities are being planned. You can invite your family members or even friends who do not live at the facility to share in the event or meal, and begin a new tradition that you all can look forward to each Spring.
2. Continue an old tradition.
Perhaps every year you colored Easter eggs, made a certain type of cookie, or even volunteered as a family at a local charity. There’s no reason you can’t continue this tradition, regardless of where you are living. Many facilities even provide transportation to local stores where you can purchase supplies or to locations where you can volunteer. Keeping up a treasured tradition can help you or your loved one feel at home.
3. Create a new tradition.
A new living situation can be the perfect chance to create a new Easter tradition with loved ones, friends, or neighbors. If nothing is planned formally at your living facility, brainstorm some easy and fun activities to share, like decorating Easter baskets (you can have a contest or display them in a central area later) or dying Easter eggs (you can donate them to a local school or community event for an Easter egg hunt). The main idea is to gather together to share favorite memories while making new ones.
4. Remember and share your favorites.
This is a delicious way to spread the Easter cheer at an assisted living facility! If you have a favorite meal or food item from Easters past, why not share them with your community? Perhaps you always bought a special sweet treat or purchased your favorite honey-baked ham. Invite your neighbors, family, and friends over to celebrate and share. You can share with the staff as well to really spread the spirit of the season.
5. Get outside.
Hopefully you live in a part of the country where Spring is finally breaking through the winter months. If so, and you’re able, take this opportunity to get outdoors and shake off those winter blues. Go for an after-lunch stroll with a family member or friend, and enjoy the changing weather and promise of a new season. If it’s still too cold or you’re not mobile, at least spend some time near a window to soak in the sunshine’s Vitamin D and think about the warmer days to come.
6. Focus on faith.
For many people of practicing faith, Easter is one of the most important holidays of the liturgical year. Many assisted living facilities offer Easter services or mass, so it is convenient for residents to continue their faith traditions. If your loved one is living in a facility, remember to offer to bring them with you to your church service; you might be surprised at how important of a gesture this could be.
Spring is a wonderful time of new beginnings and favorite memories. With a little planning and action, you can continue to make wonderful Easter memories for years to come.
Megan Hammons
Megan Hammons lives in the Central Texas countryside just outside of Austin, pursuing her love for copywriting after a career in high-tech marketing. She is part of a large, diverse family and enjoys spending time with the multiple generations living in her community.
