Festive Food & Activities in Senior Living Communities

The countdown to Christmas is on, and our care homes and assisted living sites are already preparing for a busy festive season, with food playing a key role in the celebrations.

Meals and moments spent together are a key part of the holiday season for our residents. Read on to find out how our food menus and seasonal activities help create a welcoming environment across our extra care and care homes.

The lead-up to Christmas

Preparing care homes and other senior living facilities for the holiday season doesn’t happen overnight. A memorable Christmas takes months of careful planning and hard work from our teams. Darren Neal, our Head of Culinary, explains the level of planning that goes into the holiday season:

“Christmas is such a special time in our care homes and other senior living sites. Our teams work tirelessly to bring the magic to life for our residents. Most of the festivities begin early in December and we cram in a full month’s worth of activities and celebrations, most of which involve food.”

Old traditions, new memories

The season begins with Stir-Up Sunday, where residents prepare a communal Christmas pudding. They can also take part in festive baking sessions, such as decorating gingerbread men or making Christmas cookies. These practical, hands-on activities encourage participation and offer familiar smells, textures and flavours that many residents recognise.

But it’s not all about food; we also run a range of seasonal activities, including tree decorating, Christmas films, games, card making and sing-alongs.

Classic Christmas food menus

Because food plays such a central role in the Christmas celebrations for many of us, we shape our menus around the flavours that our residents love.

Our menus include traditional options such as roast turkey with all the trimmings, soups, honey-roasted vegetables and desserts like Christmas pudding and Yule log. Tables are also laid with Christmas crackers and seasonal decorations to create a festive atmosphere for residents.

Boxing Day usually shifts to lighter meals, with options like cold cuts and salads, with some homes offering a buffet in the evening. As the celebrations continue, New Year’s Day brings winter dishes such as roasted meats, classic puddings and cheeseboards. In our extra care sites, treats such as mince pies and tarts are also available throughout the season.

Celebrating together

Coming together with loved ones is what Christmas is all about. That’s why families and friends are invited to join in the celebrations, giving residents the chance to share meals, take part in activities and spend the season with the people who mean the most to them.

We also involve the wider community where possible, with visits from local school groups, choirs and carol singers, which are always well received by residents.

Wrapping up the festive season

As we count down the days till Christmas, we would like to wish our friends, colleagues, clients and residents a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year!