For most of us, holiday season is our favorite one, and we look forward to celebrating it all year. It’s during holiday season that we get to spend time with our loved ones, cook and eat all of our favorite foods, hang lights and decorations, and share the spirit of the season with one another. It is a cherished time for many, but not all of us have the privilege of spending it in our own homes. For those of us with loved ones that are ill in the hospital, or working their jobs in healthcare, know all too well the difficulties that may come with the holiday season.
Those of us at ForWard Headwall are familiar with situations like these. We want to help you find ways to make sure the patients, staff, and visitors at your healthcare facility are able to feel cared for during this time. Holiday season can be a difficult time for some, but it doesn’t always have to be. With this in mind, we were able to put together a short list of ways that you can add some holiday cheer to your facility, without compromising the quality of care or service you provide.
Decorate, Decorate, Decorate
Bring the holiday spirit to your building by setting up some Christmas trees, Menorahs, wreaths, holiday lights, artificial snow and snowmen, reindeer figurines, and whatever else you can think of. Ask your patients if they want to help with decorating! From hanging ornaments on the tree to decorating wreaths, there are many ways to make them feel included.
Keep sanitization in mind when decorating, especially for the decorations that people my want to touch.
Put on some Christmas movies in your lobby. This is an entertaining way for visitors to pass time while they wait, and most holiday movies are appropriate for all ages.
Turn up the holiday music — the nostalgia brought on by seasonal music can actually provide psychological benefits to your patients. Though, too much holiday music can get repetitive, so be sure to keep a variety going throughout the day.
If you want to go a step further, get some wax melters and some seasonal scented candle melts to make your facility feel (and smell) like coming home for the holidays.
Spread the Joy with Tacky Sweaters
You can’t go wrong with festive attire! Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and even Christmas sweaters will spread the season’s cheer to all your patients and visitors. Festive scrubs, anyone?
To add another layer of fun, set a date for a competition between staff. You might even be surprised by the holiday creativity they might have! This will boost employee morale and make your doctors and nurses seem less intimidating, especially in pediatric units.
Holiday Feasts & Treats
Those of us that are able to be home for the holidays know just how big of a deal the feasts and treats are during the season. Ask your patients what their favorite holiday dishes are, and go big by having a feast in the cafeteria! You can even include patients’ families and friends.
If your facility doesn’t have the space for a feast, opt for a lower-volume, lower-cost option by providing diet-friendly seasonal treats to patients. Hot chocolate, candy canes, cookies, pumpkin or pecan pies, warm ciders, and some seasonal fruits and vegetables will do the trick! Keep in mind any possible allergies or dietary restrictions.
Holiday Activities & Classes
Setting up a time to bring your patients together is sure to bring the holiday cheer, as most holiday patients don’t get to experience these seasonal group activities with their families. Create a craft hour, with activities like decorating ornaments or gingerbread houses, making holiday cards to send to their loved ones at home, or crafting hats or headbands for the winter will bring your patients together to share this special time.
For a more relaxed environment, have a Christmas movie night for your patients and their visitors, if your facility is able to accommodate them. Include the holiday snacks and treats as mentioned above, and you’ve got a fun evening in store for patients and guests of all ages. To step this up a notch, include some holiday movie trivia in as well!
Send Some Holiday Cards
Holiday cards are perhaps the easiest, and most personalized, way to spread holiday cheer. Write your patients a special note and leave it on their food tray or leave a greeting card in a patient’s room. Any act of kindness, big or small, during the holidays does not go unnoticed, and is sure to put a smile on a patient’s face. If you want to take this a step further, give them a small gift along with your card as well!
Invite Seasonal Visitors
This time of year might feel especially lonely for some patients, so if your facility is able to do so safely, invite Christmas Carolers or Santa Claus to spread the holiday cheer and well wishes. Reach out to any local organizations or schools who partner with healthcare facilities to do these kinds of activities. If your facility doesn’t allow for visitors right now, consider having a virtual Santa visit or caroler time for your patients!
The holidays are difficult for some, but they don’t always need to be. Even if you aren’t able to do any of these things in your facility, even just a warm smile and cheerful disposition will be enough to make your patients feel cared for during this time.
On behalf of Steve Ward & Associates and ForWard Headwall, we’d like to wish you a happy holiday season this year!
