Celebrating Christmas in Residential Aged Care
Lucinda, the Lifestyle Coordinator, at Carpenter Court Aged Care Centre, notes that there is something for everyone leading up to Christmas. “We will be cooking, creating Christmas decorations to display in the Centre, evening bus trips to look at the lights on display, inviting family to have a big Christmas party, entertainers will be visiting to sing Christmas songs, and Aussie Christmas photos will be taken.”
Capturing the meaning of Christmas, their Chaplain has also prepared an advent calendar Christmas story which will be read from Monday to Friday for residents. Christmas Day at the Centre will commence with a Christmas service and spent in staff company. “On the 25th of December, our Chaplain will be conducting a morning Christmas service for the residents to attend if they wish,” she explains. “The Lifestyle staff will have the phone on them for people to make and receive calls from family and friends, and the staff will join the residents for lunch.”
At the Bethesda Aged Care Centre, this time of year brings with it a chance for residents to get creative, tells Belinda, their Lifestyle Coordinator. “This year at Bethesda we will be making snowman-inspired Christmas tree decorations and paper mâché Santa’s as part of our arts and craft activities leading up to Christmas.” The resident’s creativity is also on display, with the Christmas tree assembled in the Centre’s lounge room. “Our residents enjoy decorating the Centre each year,” she says. “We always start in the dining room with the tree which is the focal point. There is an audience watching the tree go up, and a round of applause and cheering once the tree is up,” Belinda states.
When Belinda reflects on Christmas, she agrees it is a favourite season for staff and residents alike, bringing together everyone. “Staff like to help decorate the Centre and dress up in their favourite Christmas shirts,” she states. “You will often hear staff singing Christmas carols in the hallways and the same goes for residents throughout December. It’s just a magical time of the year.”
Montrose Aged Care Centre’s (“Montrose”), Lifestyle Coordinator, Ante, outlines that Montrose is unique in its resident cohort, being an all-male facility. “At Montrose, we are fairly different to other Residential Aged Care Centres due to our cohort,” he states. “A vast majority of our men were homeless and suffer from mental illness alongside side various health issues. The staff at Montrose have become somewhat an extended family for our residents that look after them, treat them with respect and give them the care they need.”
Accordingly, Ante notes it is a particularly special time for staff to therefore spread joy into the lives of residents, “Our staff provide continued care for our residents, however, during Christmas time, they feel very honoured and privileged to be looking after our men. They love seeing them feel and look happy during this time and remind them that there are people in their lives who care about them.”
