The winter season can be beautiful, but it is also a time when many people in retirement homes in Travis County, TX, have more time to relax. While some residents enjoy the cold weather, others may miss their warmer homes and climates. No matter your preference, there are plenty of ways to stay busy during the winter months in your community.
Christmas Tree Decorating
Christmas is a great time to get the whole family together, and even if you don’t have children anymore, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on this lovely tradition. Christmas tree decorating is a great way to bring everyone together and teach them about the true meaning of Christmas.
If you decide to do this with your retirement community friends and neighbors, make sure you get creative! Go for something unique that no one else can replicate (or at least not without help from an expert). There are many creative ways to decorate your tree: chipmunk ornaments, anyone?
Cookie Swap
Christmas cookie swaps are a fun way to enjoy the holidays with friends and family. Here’s how to do it:
- Invite your friends over for a Christmas cookie swap party.
- Decide on the party’s date, time, and location, then send out invitations to all of your guests.
- On the day of the party, bring a batch of homemade cookies (or buy some from your favorite bakery) and set them out buffet-style on an attractive tablecloth or piece of decor (or place them in boxes).
- Set up tables around your living room so people can mingle while eating their cookies—and ensure there are enough chairs, so everyone has somewhere to sit down! You could also set up one big table if you have room; just make sure there’s plenty of space between each guest’s seat so that no one feels crowded by another person’s knees or elbows when they’re eating their treats! If possible, avoid putting food directly on top.
Book Club
A book club is a group of people who meet to discuss a book. The group usually reads one book at a time and then meets to discuss the content with other group members. Friends, family, or colleagues can form book clubs.
A good way to start your retirement community book club is to survey residents’ interests and see if any common themes arise from multiple responses. Once you know what kinds of books people would like to read, it will be easier for you to assemble your first set of selections as an organizer.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a major Jewish holiday celebrating the Temple’s rededication in Jerusalem. It is celebrated for eight days and begins on the 25th of Kislev (roughly late December). This makes it somewhat similar to Christmas because it lasts for a long time and involves gift-giving but is not associated with Jesus’ birth or death.
