Host a thoughtful Christmas for your elderly relatives
Christmas is a time where families meet under one roof, share the Christmas cooking duties, or book a table to save the washing up. This time of year is one of the few days every generation is together, from the newborn baby to their great grandparents.
Making Christmas accessible can be as easy as picking your elderly relatives up and dropping them off again. But if age is slowing them down, providing comfortable and supportive furniture can help them settle down for the day. Our Riser Recliner chairs allow your relative to rise and relax at the touch of a button. Our adjustable beds are the perfect solution for when they plan to stay the night and need the mobility, or for when your elderly relative needs extra care and support.
How to make this Christmas more accessible for your elderly relatives
1. Physical accessibility
Your relatives might struggle to move around making physical accessibility important for their visit. Begin by clearing pathways, removing clutter and rearranging the furniture. This will create wide, clear paths and is important if your relative is a wheelchair user or uses a mobility aid.
Remove any loose rugs or carpet to prevent tripping hazards and place non-slip mats in bathrooms and on hardwood flooring.
Provide your relative with a comfortable, supportive chair with good posture support, like our high back recliner armchairs. Arrange seating so the whole family can interact when celebrating but provide a space for solitude and peace.
Make sure the bathroom is easy to access and consider installing grab bars or a shower chair for extra support. Celebrating Christmas at a house with a downstairs toilet can significantly reduce anxiety for your family member.
Your relative might not want to visit on Christmas day because of the chaos and noise. Instead, you could invite your relative on Christmas eve, skip the meal and simply enjoy a Christmas pudding together. This could be the perfect time to craft some handmade Christmas cards for the workers at their care home.
2. Adapting Activities to suit the whole family
Being excited for Christmas day can make you want to do everything in the short space of time, remember to keep a gentle pace and don't plan too much. Have a few fun activities and traditions you want to complete and allow time for rest too.
Include family traditions and something your relative used to do as a child, this makes the day more inclusive. Encourage your relative to join in the fun and create new memories with every generation.
Spend time looking through photos from the past year, listen to music from every decade, and don’t forget to put on the King’s Speech (often the most important part of the day). You could even sing Christmas carols together.
When it’s time for Christmas dinner, ensure that everyone can sit together at the table. Pre-prepare your relatives' meal or serve it slightly beforehand so when the table is full, they don’t feel overwhelmed by the crowd.
Your elderly relative might want some downtime away from everyone. Set up a comfortable space with a sturdy armchair, soft, dimmable lighting and reduced background noise. They might enjoy our reading nook idea.
3. Communication and planning
Reach out to your loved ones and see if there’s anything specific they need for the day. Check to see if they need to be picked up and dropped off, if there's any mobility or sensory needs or if there’s anything they don’t want on their dinner plate.
Share the details for the day, include the location, time, any specific activities and who else will be visiting. This way your family members can make sure they bring everything they need and ask any questions.
If you’re planning a larger Christmas party with a buffet-styled eating option, label everything in clear, large letters so your relatives can read what everything is.
Making your home accessible for the festive season can be easy. You may already be planning small things to make this Christmas special. Hopefully these hints and tips will make the day go smoother.
Check out our range of furniture to make your elderly relatives life easier, from chairs, sofas to adjustable beds. Every need is met, with HSL’s comfort and support.
For more Lifestyle advice and tips, check out our Feel Good Hub. You might like our related articles:
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