For Seniors: Brighten Up the Nursing Home with Festive Christmas Decorations!
As the Christmas season approaches, many senior care facilities decorate their interiors in a festive way, don’t they?
In a bright, colorful atmosphere, we want seniors to feel the spirit of Christmas as they spend their time.
So this time, we’ll introduce Christmas decorations suitable for senior care facilities.
Putting up Christmas decorations helps seniors sense the changing seasons and can also spark conversation.
If you incorporate making the decorations into a craft activity, they can enjoy Christmas even more.
And when the room is decorated with Christmas items they made themselves, it can give them a sense of accomplishment.
By all means, try making some lovely Christmas decorations.
[For Seniors] Brighten Up Nursing Homes! Christmas Decorations (1–10)
Reindeer made from Yakult containers
Let’s try making a reindeer using empty containers from Yakult or other lactic acid bacteria drinks.
There’s a story that Santa Claus comes riding in a sleigh pulled by reindeer at Christmas, right? Some older adults may have fond memories of telling that story to their children or grandchildren.
As you craft, you might look back on the past and spark lively conversations with others.
You can make it by wrapping yarn around the empty container and attaching antlers, a collar, and facial parts.
The steps are simple, so many older adults will likely be able to take part.
How about adding a little twist and making Santa Claus as well?
Rattling ornament
Let’s make a fun, shaker-style decoration that’s perfect for Christmas and easy to create with items from the 100-yen shop.
Put beads and sequins into a paper plate and seal it with a piece of film.
If you use paper plates with Christmas illustrations or patterns, it’s even easier.
Of course, illustrations drawn by older adults work great too.
The finished piece can be hung like a wreath, and you can pick it up to shake and enjoy the rattling sound.
It would also make a delightful gift to take home and give to a young grandchild.
The steps are simple, so give it a try!
Gift box ornament
In December, many senior care and welfare facilities may also decorate Christmas trees, don’t you think? Some older adults might feel excited or sense the season when they see a Christmas tree.
With that in mind, we’d like to introduce a box ornament made from two sheets of origami paper, perfect for a Christmas tree.
You’ve probably seen paper boxes where the bottoms are thin and flimsy.
In contrast, this box ornament has a sturdy construction with thickness not only on the bottom but throughout.
Although it’s made of origami, it’s a creation worthy of being a tree decoration.
There are some complex steps involving creasing and folding, so please try making it with support from those around you as needed.
Seeing their own handmade creations hanging on the tree is likely to bring joy to older adults.
Christmas ornament
Here’s an introduction to lovely crafts made with design paper, which you can also buy at 100-yen shops.
Design paper comes in various colors and patterns, including ones perfect for the Christmas season, like Santa Claus and Christmas trees.
Glue the paper onto construction paper of the same size and cut it into circles.
If the sheets are 15 cm by 15 cm, you can get 20 circular pieces with a diameter of 3 cm from four sheets.
Fold the edges of each circle to make a triangle, then apply glue to the edges and connect them.
Once you’ve connected 10 pieces, make another set just like it, and glue the two sets together to complete a beautiful ornament.
Some steps are a bit tricky, but since it’s a repetition of the same process, it may become easy once you get the hang of it.
Please provide support tailored to older adults.
Be sure to attach a string and hang it on the Christmas tree.
stained glass-style ornament
Stained glass—those lovely patterns made from pieces of glass in various colors found in church and home windows.
With its vivid style, stained glass creates a soothing atmosphere for viewers.
Although working with glass can seem difficult, you can easily make stained glass–style decorations using laminating film.
Create a frame out of black paper, cut out the shapes, and sandwich them between laminate sheets.
Run both sides through a laminator, cut to shape, and color them in with pens.
Older adults who see the finished pieces may also feel a sense of accomplishment from how much they resemble real stained glass.
A simple star made with straws
Let’s make a fun star decoration using drinking straws.
Prepare three straws, and cut one of them to about one-third of its length.
Prepare five straws of the same length, thread them onto a piece of yarn, and tie the two ends of the leftover yarn together.
This will form a pentagon, and with a bit of ingenuity, you can fold the straws to create a star shape.
Using your hands while figuring out how to fold it stimulates the brain and can be a helpful brain-training activity.
Some older adults may be surprised by the unexpected method.
Since you can easily make a lovely star, it’s a recommended craft for December activities.
Try displaying the finished pieces on a tree or as a garland.
Felt ball ornament
Introducing a ball ornament that brings the cozy warmth of felt.
Even with global warming, the Christmas season still brings a chill in the air.
Many seniors may be spending more time indoors, too.
As a craft to make in a warm room, this felt ball ornament is perfect for the season.
Cut felt into circles with a diameter of 5 cm, then cut each circle in half.
Fold each piece in half and attach with a glue gun.
Glue two pieces together and continue connecting them so they align like radii.
Once you have two “radius” sets, attach a string or bell to one, then connect it to the other.
Using two colors of felt will give it an even nicer finish.