The holiday season often comes with emotional reunions. This is especially true when visiting a loved one at an assisted living home. There are many ways to make special memories when seeing your older friend or family member. However, the following guide offers tips for making the trip even more meaningful.

How to Make Assisting Living Visits Festive

1. Write Holiday Cards 

Have fun writing holiday cards to loved ones together. Bring along a list of names and addresses of recipients. Ask your loved one to recite a message that you can write in the card on their behalf, or ask if they’d like to do it instead. If you're planning to include a family photo, you can ask them to select the one they like the best. This is a fun bonding experience that will help you feel closer as you reminisce about loved ones.

2. Play Christmas Carols 

A few merry tunes can set a festive spirit in their living space. It can also bring to mind fond memories of holidays past. Play music from artists you know they love or ask them about their favorite holiday songs when they were younger. Introduce them to some of your own favorites, too. 

3. Deck the Halls

Consider decorating their room to celebrate the season. Think about hobbies they might have, like knitting or crafting, and bring along the appropriate materials for them to create some holiday spirit of their own. They can teach you some of their skills. You might even bring along a small tree that you can place there. 

4. Plan a Family Dinner

Technology allows people to connect in ways that were impossible before. Bring along some of your loved one's favorite holiday-themed dishes and then arrange a video call with other relatives who weren't able to make the trip. This can provide much more insight into each other's lives than a letter or phone call and give the season an aura of togetherness.

If you seek a beautiful assisted living home for your loved one, consider Great Lakes Senior Living. With multiple locations throughout Wisconsin, they provide a lively and engaging environment where your family member is sure to thrive. Their activities include game nights, live music, and group fitness. Visit the website for more information, or call (608) 868-3000 in Milton, (608) 312-2370 in Beloit, or (262) 534-4800 in Waterford. You can also take video tours of the Beloit and Milton locations.