Fostering Social Engagement During the Holidays
The holiday season can bring about feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While some older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers may be gathering in person with family and friends to celebrate this year, many may continue to opt for virtual gatherings.
In this blog entry, we highlight some of the ways that organizations can provide older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers with additional social engagement opportunities throughout the holiday season to help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Identifying and Planning for Holiday Engagement Activities
When developing holiday programming, consider the many holidays celebrated in the community you serve. Offer events and activities not just for Christmas, but for a variety of religious, cultural and secular holidays like Thanksgiving, Hanukkah/Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Diwali/Deepavali, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and more. Plan early and involve your community in selecting which holidays it would like your organization to recognize. Requesting input for holiday engagement activities like baking, home decorating, ugly sweater contests or storytelling, will allow members of your community to share their traditions with others and make new memories.
Working with community partners to help facilitate activities and events for celebrations with which your staff may not be familiar is a great way to expand your reach and make new connections. Some of the individuals you serve may even wish to help facilitate activities by sharing their own expertise and culture. Including a calendar of holiday activities in your newsletters or sending one with home-delivered meals can help older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in your community plan ahead and look forward to special events.
Ideas to Incorporate into Your Organization’s Holiday Programming
While your organization may have offered holiday programming during past holiday seasons, ideas from other organizations may help inspire your 2021 plans. Some great ideas include the following:
A holiday pen pal program, connecting students or other community members to older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in your community
Virtual cooking and baking classes focused on holiday favorites like Christmas cookies, latkes, sweet potato pie, rice kheer and more
Secret Santa Gift exchanges
Holiday beverage virtual gatherings, where participants can drink eggnog, apple cider, wassail, hot chocolate and other holiday favorites while sharing stories of past holidays and hopes for the New Year
Classes focused on the history of various holidays and how different cultures celebrate
Holiday movie watching that involves watching a movie together virtually and then discuss in small groups
Airing of virtual musical, ballet or theater performances of holiday favorites
Drive-through or virtual events like light shows or a tour of holiday decorations in the area
Other virtual activities with a specific focus on the holiday season to help foster holiday spirit and connection, such as art activities, talent shows, dance parties, ugly sweater contests or home decorating contests
Resources to Help
For more holiday programming ideas, listen or watch Social Engagement During the Holidays: Creative Initiatives and Resources, a webinar hosted by engAGED. If those you serve need assistance with using technology to participate in virtual engagement offerings, the National Senior Planet Hotline can help. Administered by Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee, older adults can contact the hotline directly at (888) 713-3495, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.