When you think of the holidays, annual traditions and celebrations you look forward to each year with family and friends probably come to mind. Unfortunately, the holidays in 2020 look vastly different for most people. With the continued threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19), spending time in-person with loved ones has become increasingly difficult and riskier to your health.

Fortunately, not all is lost as you plan for the holidays this December. There are still ways you can celebrate the holiday season by abiding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Safe Holiday Celebration Guidelines

An important factor to keep in mind when planning for the holidays is that the risk for severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age. The older you are, the more likely you’ll suffer from worsened symptoms that could require hospitalization.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the CDC has provided a set of guidelines and precautions to follow for safe holiday celebrations:
 

• First and foremost, limit your in-person interactions. Keep your holiday festivities focused on your immediate family this year.
• Wear a mask when with people, both indoors and outdoors.
• Stay six feet apart, or two arms lengths, from others.
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
• Disinfect household surfaces often, especially during and after holiday gatherings.

5 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays Safely this Year

While it may not be a possibility to spend time face to face with all of your loved ones this year, it’s still important to socialize with them and avoid isolation. Here are some different ways you can plan to safely celebrate the holidays while social distancing:
 

1. Visit Virtually with Loved Ones. This is one of the safest ways you can visit with loved ones this holiday season without putting yourself and them at risk of contracting COVID-19. You can use video chats, phone calls and text messages to connect with your family and friends and improve your emotional wellness during a socially isolating time. For video chats, you can use applications such as Zoom, FaceTime or Skype to chat, play games or partake in virtual festive celebrations.
    
2. Send Loved Ones Holiday Gifts in the Mail. The holidays are typically a time for giving. Since you may not be able to give your gifts in person this year, be sure to send them in the mail. Then, on Christmas day, you can plan a virtual call to open the gifts together. You’ll still be able to experience your grandchildren’s joy as they open their gifts, just in a way that keeps everyone healthy.
    
3. Bake Your Loved Ones’ Favorite Holiday Treats. Do you enjoy baking? If so, focus on baking cookies, cakes and other desserts your loved ones enjoy during the holidays. Send them in the mail or drop them off at their house once you’re done. Then, hop on a video call with your loved ones to chat and enjoy snacking on the desserts together!
    
4. Create a Holiday Playlist for Your Loved Ones. A fun, creative way to get social this holiday season is by creating a holiday themed playlist for your loved ones to enjoy. You can compile a list of songs the whole family likes, then schedule a time to listen together. This can make you feel more connected to your loved ones and be part of the holiday spirit, even from afar.
    
5. Send Your Loved Ones a Care Package. Everybody loves receiving gifts, especially during the holidays! Make a list of all your family and friends you want to send care packages to, then think of their favorite things. This can include their favorite treats, recent photos of you and your family, handwritten holiday cards or whatever you feel they would appreciate the most. This is a sentimental way of making the holidays feel a bit less lonely when you’re unable to see your loved ones in person.

Stay Connect to Loved Ones at Knute Nelson

At Knute Nelson, we believe in enriching the lives of everyone we serve and helping assisted living residents find meaning in every day. That’s why we make it a top priority to keep residents connected to their loved ones all year round. From video calls with loved ones to socially distanced and safe activities with neighbors, we aim to keep our assisted living residents safe while celebrating the holidays this year.

Looking for an assisted living community that can help you live as independently as possible while keeping you connected to family and friends? Contact us today to learn more about our assisted living communities.