Our Anthem Memory Care communities are busy all year round, but we especially love the holiday season. It is a time, not only for gathering with family and friends, but a time for counting our blessings and giving back in meaningful ways to the greater community.
Below are some wonderful photos taken during the holidays that show off some of the amazing projects and special events our residents and staff have enjoyed this holiday season.
Chelsea Place Memory Care residents participated in a food drive to provide Thanksgiving meals to underserved families in the greater Aurora, Colorado area. Here, a resident packs up a box full of canned goods and baking supplies.
Vineyard Place Memory Care hosted a special story time, inviting local fourth graders to read their favorite holiday stories with residents. You can see in this photo the joy that intergenerational engagement brings to both students and residents!
Tree trimming is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Each year residents enjoy the camaraderie of getting out their favorite ornaments and sharing stories of holidays “back in the day”. Here, a resident of Porter Place Memory Care in Tinley Park, Illinois puts the final touches on their tree.
Local students from EPIC Campus in Littleton, Colorado visited residents at Highline Place Memory Care to help craft special “memory books” containing photos and unique holiday memories shared by the residents. What a wonderful way to bring generations together to connect and engage.
Residents and staff of Harvester Place Memory Care headed off on a shopping spree to gather clothing items for their Christmas “Adopt a Child” program to bring comfort and joy to underserved families in the greater Chicago area.
Young family members of residents and staff of Savoy Place Memory Care in Savoy, Illinois were invited for a special visit from Santa. When children are around, wonderful things happen! Smiles, laughter, and memories of past holidays bring joyful moments to both residents and children.
Our residents enjoy making their own decorative ornaments each year. This vivacious resident of Emerald Place Memory Care in Glenview, Illinois shows off her handiwork before hanging it on the tree.
Churchill Place Memory Care residents brave the chilly weather to deliver a grocery cart full of food to Glen House Food Pantry in Glen Ellyn, Illinois for distribution to families over the holidays. Giving back is a huge part of the holidays, especially for residents who have enjoyed volunteering all their lives!
This holiday season has brought so many opportunities for connection and enrichment every day in our Anthem communities. With some advanced planning and a few adjustments, your family, too, can experience the joy of including your loved one with dementia in your own holiday activities. You will be pleased to discover how much their presence lights up your gatherings and sparks wonderful memories of past holidays.
We also would like to invite you and your family to visit any of our Anthem Memory Care communities during the holidays to experience for yourself the supportive, engaging environments our residents enjoy each day. Our staff will be happy to answer questions you may have about memory care and to share our own experiences. We love the holidays and welcome the opportunity to share them with you!
(So many of our residents have owned and loved dogs all their lives, and they love doing their part to help the shelters. Our header image shows Concord Place Memory Care residents and staff delivering handmade dog treats to their local animal shelter in Knoxville, Tennessee. And, of course, it included a visit to see the resident canines!)