“Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s all about family traditions and spending time together,” says Jayne Sallerson, Chief Operating Officer of Charter Senior Living. “This holiday season can be especially meaningful, particularly if you couldn’t spend this special time together last year. Whether you are planning a gathering in person or virtually, you can do many easy things to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with loved ones.”
Ready to learn more? Here are some easy ways to prepare for the holidays while celebrating with family and friends. You may find that this is the best holiday yet as you create new traditions and enjoy each other’s company.
Show your gratitude by giving back.
Many families celebrate Thanksgiving by helping others in the Greater Atlanta, GA, community. This is a great activity for those young and old, and many organizations in your area would appreciate a helping hand on Thanksgiving Day (or any day). Beyond soup kitchens and food pantries, you may want to focus your giving on a smaller group of people – perhaps those in Assisted Living or the senior living community who may not have a family to celebrate with. You and your family could put together care packages so they can enjoy the holiday as well. Or you can open your table and invite other senior living residents to your family’s meal – the more, the merrier!
Celebrate at the community.
Senior living communities are fun to be around during the holiday season because the communities are decorated, and there are always seasonally themed activities and events going on. Check with your activities director to see what’s happening during Turkey Month, and then invite your family members to come and enjoy the day in your new home. You may even be able to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal catered by the community without having to do any prep work or cleanup.
Have faraway loved ones join in on the fun.
If you have friends and family who aren’t able to come together to celebrate, there are still multiple ways that everyone can celebrate together. Beyond scheduling a Zoom call during or after the meal, host a virtual game party that anyone can join in on. You could also have fun before the meal by “baking” virtually together or otherwise making the meal, even when you’re miles away.
Muse on memories.
The holidays give us a chance to take a trip down memory lane and remember happy holidays from years and years ago. Multigenerational celebrations like Thanksgiving are a perfect time for older adults to reminisce about Thanksgivings of their youth while also giving younger kids a chance to share their favorite part of the holidays. Consider memorializing the memory sharing by having notecards for people to write on, printing off memory “prompts” that can be used to spark conversation, or even videoing the conversations so they can be enjoyed for years to come.
Your Journey. Your Way.
Charter Senior Living of Vinings offers Assisted Living and Memory Care and is a caring and compassionate place for seniors to reside and live fulfilling and purposeful lives. Our parent company, Charter Senior Living, manages more than 40 senior living communities throughout the U.S., offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care services.
A family-owned business with an executive team that has more than 100 combined years in the senior housing industry, Charter Senior Living’s mission is to enhance the human spirit of our residents, families and employees while serving with heart, purpose and courage – and to have fun while serving. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a resident here in Atlanta, GA, give us a call at 770.679.8329.