Keeping elderly involved on Christmas Day

If you have an elderly loved-one visiting as part of your bubble on Christmas Day, you might be wondering how you can make sure they feel involved.

It can be difficult due to various health conditions and mobility, but we have come up with a few ideas you can use.

Please remember to keep washing and sanitising your hands throughout the day and gently remind your elderly loved-one too. Please stick to government regulations regarding support bubbles and numbers of households mixing.

Sort the presents

If an elderly loved-one wants to do something ‘useful’ for you, why not have them sort the presents? They can sort through and pop them into organised piles for everyone around the room.

Set the table

Another important job you can delegate is the setting of the Christmas dinner table. Make sure they have everything they need such as a tablecloth, napkins, cutlery, glasses, crockery and give them free reign. They can use small trinkets, foliage and crackers for decoration and they’ll no doubt be super proud of their work.

Help in the kitchen

If they’re mobile enough, why not encourage your elderly relative or friend to help out in the kitchen so they feel a part of the big day. They can help prepare dessert, do some peeling or chopping and they might even have their own recipes to pass down. It will allow you to spend precious time with them and you can have a chat and a catch up at the same time.

Occupy the children

If they’re mobile enough and up for it, you could put granny or grandad in charge of the grandchildren while you get on with the cooking.

They could take part in an activity together such as crafting, a puzzle or watch a Christmas movie together.