“The staff have kind of taken them over as family,” says Darlene Thibault, also Almonte Country Haven’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

“It’s just a done deal. We spend a lot of time on one-to-one programming,” she says for those residents requiring extra attention.

The holiday season is generally a happy time of year for the seniors at the 82-bed home in eastern Ontario, Darlene says. “It’s mixed,” she says. “We’re dealing with a lot of cognitively-impaired residents. But for the most part, resident enjoy watching the decorations go up.”

This week, staff and residents dusted off the decorations and set up the Christmas ornaments for display in the home. “We’re decking the halls for the Christmas season. (Residents) enjoy getting involved in that,” she says. “Residents decorate the trees and each of the halls.”

Almonte is preparing for its family Christmas tea Dec. 4. It’s one of many events that bring families into the home during the festive season. “There are lots of opportunities for families to come into the home and celebrate the season with our residents.”

Darlene has lined up a schedule of entertainment, including local dancers, choirs and schoolchildren. Each year, the Civitan club hosts a party at the nursing home and donates money to purchase a group gift. This year’s funds went towards the purchase of inflatable snowmen for the front entrance of the home.

“There’s great community spirit” for the nursing home, says Darlene.

Meanwhile, Willows Estate in Aurora is gearing up for its resident tea and silent auction also on Dec. 4.

“Residents don’t have to leave their home to see their family,” says Teddy Mazucca, life enrichment co-ordinator at the 84-bed urban nursing home.

It’s an occasion Willows has hosted for the past three years.