“Stocking” Up on Holiday Cheer!

Sunday, December 8th 2024

By: Charlotte Hendrey

Counting down the days to Christmas, the residents of Greenwood Assisted Living are in need of some holiday cheer. Luckily, “party” is my middle name!

When I arrived today, I noticed two familiar faces sitting quietly in an empty room, looking a bit lonely. I thought to myself, “I can turn those frowns upside down!”

With a big smile and a box brimming with ribbons, pompoms, glue, and stockings, I greeted my lovely friends. As always, I began by reintroducing myself: “Hi ladies! I’m Charlotte, and today I brought some fun stockings for us to decorate together!”

Encouraging the residents to participate in activities can sometimes take a little extra effort. In the afternoons, they can feel tired or grumpy, but I’ve found that a cheerful attitude can be contagious. Their moods often reflect mine, so I make sure to bring plenty of positivity and enthusiasm.

Once we got started, the conversation began to flow naturally, and soon we were laughing and chatting as we decorated our stockings. I promised them that when we finished, we’d hang their creations up for everyone to admire.

To ensure safety, I handled the hot glue gun myself. I made sure to ask them about their preferences — what colors they wanted to use and how they wanted the decorations placed — so they stayed engaged and felt personally involved in the activity. Including them in the decision-making process is important because it fosters connection and makes the experience more meaningful for both of us.

Nancy, on my left, chose red as her main color, while my friend on the right opted for green. They both admired their finished stockings, exclaiming, “Oh, they’re beautiful!” I couldn’t agree more.

When the caregivers came to collect the stockings to hang them up, I insisted we include the residents in the process. With the help of the caregivers, we brought them in their wheelchairs to watch the stockings being displayed. The residents were thrilled to see their work as part of the holiday decor.

By the end of our activity, their spirits were completely lifted. Those frowns truly turned upside down, and their faces glowed with holiday cheer. As I packed up, they eagerly asked when I’d be back. I excitedly told them that next time, we’d decorate cookies together!