14th December 2020
The festive season is an important time for seeing and socialising with friends and family. While coronavirus has made things more complicated, and there are more restrictions on who you can see and how, our supported living specialists know that this time of year can help to alleviate any feelings of isolation and loneliness, and help you form a positive attitude for the year ahead. That’s why we’ve come up with some fantastic ideas for celebrating in style in your independent supported living home – even during a pandemic!
1. Deck the halls
Some supported living homeowners worry about hanging and fixing things to the walls for fear of causing damage to their supported living property, but we have a few tips to get round this:
Hang on handles – bring the outdoors in by hanging pine cones on door handles (which can be painted or decorated first), or simply use your favourite baubles.
Create a display – make the most of your cards by putting them on show! Why not create a festive feature by bringing in other decorations?
Get creative with tinsel – love it or hate it, tinsel is synonymous with this joyful time. It can easily be wrapped round chair legs, lamps or door handles to add a touch of glitter and sparkle.
Don’t forget the tree! If a real tree isn’t suitable or won’t fit in your independent living property, try an artificial fibre optic version instead. These cleverly combine the tree with built-in lights, saving on time with the string lights!
2. A dinner to remember
The festive season would not be the same without a spot of feasting and some sweet treats! However, when it comes to hosting guests, it can seem like a chore to be in the kitchen. Here are some great tips for managing (and saving on) time:
- Make a list – just like the man himself, making a note of timings can give you an idea of when you need to serve, and when each item needs to go in the oven (and at what temperature!)
- Get ahead – there are a few handy ways to save time on the day itself, such as parboiling veggies in advance, or buying in the things you might normally make (such as condiments or stuffing).
- Measure up – if you’re having turkey, make sure it will fit into your oven space by measuring both before you buy. And, even though it can seem last-minute, you can sometimes get good bargains if you wait to buy specific things closer to the day!
- Have a plan B – if it’s your first time cooking turkey or it’s not your thing, buy a cheap pasta bake as back-up. This can also be handy if you have vegetarians visiting!
3. Easy entertaining
Coronavirus can make it difficult to see everyone you want to over the winter break – and it can also affect what you’re able to do if you can meet up. Our supported living staff have put their heads together to come up with some great ways to entertain your guests while socially distancing (if you need to).
– Put on a classic film – few people will complain at a traditional festive movie that’s on in the background – especially if you’ll be busy in the kitchen.
– Go online – not able to invite everyone round? Try video calling apps such as Teams, Facetime or Zoom, which can help others join in on the big day.
– Make it a hands-free celebration – if you’re the type to usually bring out the board games, why not try alternatives such as charades, a fun quiz or even bingo?
Get in touch with Falcon Housing Association C.I.C (FHA)
Our independent living specialists are on-hand over the festive period and beyond, so if you’ve got a comment or concern, why not get in touch with us today? Falcon Housing Association C.I.C wishes all our tenants, landlords, families and staff a very Merry Christmas, and a festive and bright 2021!
Stay Safe