What is Christmas like at our Lowmoor Care home?

Posted 17th November 2022

There are more residents in care homes than ever before this Christmas, spending what is traditionally a family celebration away from their loved ones. Christmas at Lidder Care is a close-knit, familiar event; it is relaxed and fun and we continue to welcome family and friends throughout the festive period. We also understand that a resident’s first Christmas with us can be challenging as it is different from what they usually experience at this time of the year, which is why we try to fill our care home with as much accessible festive joy as possible.

Honouring Traditions and Spending Time with Loved Ones

We operate an open-door policy at each of our care homes, allowing family and friends to drop by whenever they like throughout the day, whether it’s in stages or altogether.

Our team understands that distance can be an obstacle at Christmas time, which is why our friendly team is happy to help our residents with phone and video calls, so you can spend time together no matter the distance.

We encourage you to bring grandchildren and friends to visit; spend time with your loved one and take part in some Christmas activities, share a meal or listen to some music together to get into the festive spirit.

We all celebrate Christmas in different ways and are deep-rooted in our family traditions. Traditions and other constraints on your time can mean you are torn between what you would like to do and what is fair to your family member in a home. If you have a family member in our residential homes at Newgate Lodge Care Home, it may be possible to prepare a Christmas away home if that is suitable for you. Speak to our staff and discuss the practicalities and whether any special preparations need to be made.

If you have a loved one requiring nursing care in our Lowmoor Care Home, then travel for Christmas is more difficult. There may be an option for them to join you for part or all of the day, but this depends on the individual. The staff at Lowmoor Nursing Home are happy to help you look at the options available.

Festive Activities for Care Home residents

At Christmas, there is nothing better than getting stuck in with all the festive entertainment, and at Lowmoor this is no exception. Our staff are on hand to provide a range of activities and entertainment to bring our residents joy at this time of year.

Activities are a great way to get to know one another and get our residents out of their rooms for some much-needed mingling. At Lowmoor we understand that activities are great for exercising the mind and improving mental health, especially if our residents might be feeling lonely this Christmas. Getting together to socialise and have fun is the perfect way for our residents to pass the most festive time of the year.

Whilst some of our residents may enjoy Christmas games together, others may prefer to settle in quietly with a Christmas film in the afternoon, and that’s completely understandable as each of our residents is different. This is why we offer both options, alongside a Christmas party for all of our residents.

Our Lowmoor Christmas Party is available to everyone at Lowmoor Care Home and includes the usual party treats and music, as well as a gift for each resident. Not only does this allow our residents to get in the Christmas spirit, but it also encourages them to mingle and make friends with their neighbours, new and old.

Providing Christmas entertainment for care homes is what our staff does best (other than looking after your loved ones).

If your loved one struggles to be alone then Lowmoor is the perfect place for them to be this Christmas. Our staff understand each of our resident’s needs and do their best to provide for them.

Festive Activities for Care Home Residents

Christmas entertainment for care homes is an important way to show care for our residents and to give them exciting activities that bring them festive joy at this busy time of year.

We can arrange Christmas shopping trips for our residents who want to buy presents for loved ones and can provide help for residents who wish to write and send Christmas cards. Staff can also support residents who wish to attend any parties, church services or Christmas Fayres. We regularly have visits from local community groups and schools in the surrounding area, who come into the home and entertain the residents at Christmas with carols or concerts. This brings different generations and age groups together and brings a real sense of peace and community.

At Lidder Care, our five-star catering team are on hand to create an impressive and delicious Christmas spread for each of our care homes. Whilst we of course serve up turkey and the traditional trimmings, we encourage you to talk to us about food-related family traditions which you would like continued for your loved one. For example, maybe you have a favourite homemade Christmas pudding recipe for us to try. You are more than welcome to visit loved ones and bring in gifts of food for them. For dementia residents, this can be a source of connection with the past which will make them feel secure.

Living with Dementia at Christmas

It is important to be aware of how a resident with dementia used to spend their Christmas, so these family traditions can be replicated as much as possible. Reminiscing about memories, playing a board game or listening to a favourite Christmas song are just some of the activities a dementia resident might prefer to do at this festive time.

Christmas is an emotional time and it’s common to have feelings of sadness and loss at this time of the year. Sometimes dementia symptoms can be worse during the festive period. With Christmas, there comes a level of excitement and changes to normal routine – this can be bewildering for someone with dementia. At each of our care homes care is taken to ensure the festive period doesn’t unsettle our residents.

It might also be a resident’s first Christmas with us. We try to fill our care home with as much accessible festive joy as possible for our residents. If this is the first Christmas since a loved one has moved into the nursing home, then some rethinking will be required with regard to how Christmas will be celebrated this year.

Making Christmas Special at Lidder Care

At Lidder Care we are sensitive to the needs of each resident and realise they are all unique and individual, which is why we strive to support our residents to the best of our abilities, especially at Christmas.

Are you looking for a new care home for your loved one? We would love to welcome them to our Newgate Lodge or Lowmoor Care Homes, managed by our fantastic staff who aim to make stays as easy and comfortable as possible for each of our residents.

If you would like to know more about our care home facilities then please get in touch with our helpful team today, or check out our FAQs for more information.