Robyn Taylor, one of our regular activity coordinator columnists, says that working in a care home at Christmas is extra special because you truly feel as though you are making someone’s Christmas, and you are there for people when their families can’t be.
It’s not just about the day – the build-up to Christmas can be daunting too. The anxiety of knowing you will be alone for this family-orientated holiday may affect a person’s mood. Ensure you spend some extra time with the person to find out their thoughts and feelings about this occasion. Don’t keep it to yourself – inform other staff, so you can work as a team to support their mental and social wellbeing.
How can we make this time of year special? Of course, you will put on group activities, carols, arts and crafts, mince pies and sherry. This is great, but Christmas is a really important time to think of the individual in these group sessions too.
Christmas Cards: Making Christmas cards is a great example of a therapeutic and a social event. But what happens with them once they are made? Send them to relatives and friends who your residents want to wish well. Can your reception team help by calling the next of kin for extended family and friends’ addresses? Always include a return address, and walk to the post box with the resident. This ensures you both know it’s been sent, and you’ve allowed them to feel like they’re involved in the process.
Be Personal: Christmas can be a magical time for many. Even working in a care home can be special as you feel as though you are making someone’s Christmas, and you are there for people when their families can’t be. They say Christmas is about giving and not receiving, but how would you feel with just one generic card from the home? Organise the staff to write individual cards, get residents to write to each other, and even ask local schools and groups in the community to get involved. Having plenty of cards on display in the person’s bedroom shows they are being thought of.
Honour Your Friendships: On Christmas Day, we open gifts from the home, enjoy a big dinner, play games, sing carols and watch The Queen’s Speech at 3pm – but what happens when the coordinator goes home? Can you arrange for small groups to congregate in eachother’s rooms in the evening, with a tipple and a Daily Sparkle to prompt discussion? Can the kitchen department have residents helping out later on? Even something as simple as making tea and warming mince pies, or helping with the washing-up – just the kind of purposeful activity that feels normal and familiar for so many. Can you leave the iPad or laptop out for residents to Facetime staff members who haven’t been on shift? In the home I worked in, one staff member even went above and beyond and took a resident home for Christmas dinner with her own family. Wow!
Think About Community: It’s not just the residents who may be lonely – there may be lots of people living alone in the community. Why not organise a free lunch for them to come and build friendships within your care home. If you’re concerned about money, fundraise in advance – and don’t forget to beg and borrow whatever you can!
Be Kind: Finally, remember that the small and simple things are just as important. I will always remember giving a resident a hug on Christmas Day and her reply was: “I can’t remember the last time I had a hug.”
We hope you have a lovely Christmas, and for all those who are working, know how much of an impact all your efforts will have on the residents’ day.
Robyn Taylor has worked as an activity coordinator in Lincolnshire for the last nine years. She recently won the East Midlands ‘Putting People First’ award for the care home she works in. She has always been passionate about enabling residents to continue with the things they love the most, and working with relatives and the community to ensure new and exciting opportunities are available.
