Put on your Santa hat and join us in spreading holiday cheer for our senior citizens!
During the holiday season, elderly residents living in senior care homes can feel lonely and isolated from the festive and joyful outside world. While the holiday season is typically spent surrounded by family, baking delicious treats, watching festive movies and listening to Christmas carols, many times we forget about the senior citizens living in assisted living and senior care homes. While these seniors may not be capable of hosting their own holiday celebration or baking a home-cooked meal, they are worthy of receiving a merry and bright holiday season. If you are looking for a way to give back and are feeling charitable this year, we encourage you to look for ways to provide Christmas donations for seniors. From handmade cards to Christmas gifts, holiday decor or monetary donations, senior care homes are in need of all donations. While many senior care homes are being cautious due to the pandemic, there are plenty of ways to donate and send gifts for senior citizens while in quarantine. Below, we have rounded up 7 reasons to send Christmas donations to senior care homes.
Whether you are planning to donate handmade Christmas cards to seniors this year, financially donate funds, or have free time to donate and spend with the elderly, read on for 7 reasons to send Christmas donations to senior care homes this holiday season.
You can make a big difference.
According to the American Health Care Association, there have been 550 assisted living home closures between 2015 and 2019. Due to being extremely underfunded and understaffed, senior care home employees cannot afford holiday decorations or gifts to bring their residents joy. Because of this, many seniors experience the holiday season without a Christmas tree and without Christmas cards or gifts. By donating gifts for the elderly, you are making a huge difference not only for the senior citizens but also taking a weight off of the employees shoulders.
To find ways to make a difference in your local area, search terms like “donations for elderly near me” or “senior center donations near me.” There is even options for programs where you can “adopt” a senior for the holiday season. By choosing this option, you can search for the best gifts for the elderly based on their needs, wants, hobbies, and interests.
Tax Deductions
A huge benefit of donating to charitable causes like assisted living and senior care centers is the ability to deduct the costs from your taxes. Once an assisted living or senior care home becomes a nonprofit organization, you can deduct any monetary donations you have made when filing your personal taxes. While we know your reason for donating to senior care homes during the Christmas season goes beyond this reason, it is a benefit that many people forget about. For both sides, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
Pro tip: Make sure you (or the senior care home) can provide the appropriate paperwork stating their tax exemption. These tax deductions can reduce your taxable income.
Age in place safely
Aging is universal: each and every one of us will be there one day. Whether we would like to think that far ahead or not, we’re human. A small financial donation can provide long-term, safe stability for the elderly and a physical Christmas gift can provide happiness and a feeling of belonging. Your donations provide the senior care home location to provide the best possible service as possible. The monetary donations senior care homes receive can be used in a variety of ways: for electric and heating bills, cable bills, employee funds and staffing, daily meals, furniture (bedding, clean sheets), cleaning supplies, medical supplies, festive Christmas decor, clean socks and underwear, and generally everything that brings senior citizens the proper care they need and most importantly, deserve. During the Christmas holiday season, especially in colder climates, heating bills are an expense that many senior care homes may struggle with paying. Something as small as a $10 donation could be used towards bills that improve the location that our elderly are living in. Each and every one of these reasons listed are beneficial in providing safe and joyful living spaces for the senior citizens that reside at each and every senior care home location, long-term.
Maintain their independence
Caregivers and employees of senior care homes do wonders to provide their residents with a feeling of respect and independence. You too can help local (and beyond) senior citizens feel like an important part of the community by giving Christmas gifts that allow them to practice their independence. Between puzzles, books, DIY craft kits like knitting or needlepointing, journals, coloring books, and more, there are plenty of Christmas gifts you can give to help provide independence for senior citizens. According to the US News Health Category, some of the best Christmas gifts for senior care home residents are quilts or blankets, slippers and socks with grippers, framed photos and artwork, stuffed animals, magazine or newspaper print subscriptions, and more.
If you are on the search for gifts for seniors in senior care and assisted living homes, be sure to think about all of the logistics involved. They may not always have a friend able enough to enjoy their gift with, so games or activities that can be completed and enjoyed independently are great options. They also may not have the space for huge “toys” so opting for something like a sketchbook and crayons may be a better gift than a large, heavy framed art print. If you happen to have the time to spare, bring a puzzle or movie to a senior care home and enjoy it with the elderly. Company from a visitor can truly be the greatest gift an elder can receive.
Combat isolation
Many seniors struggle with seasonal depression, especially during the holiday Christmas season. They may not have family living locally, they are no longer able to continue their usual Christmas traditions, and some may not even receive as little as handmade Christmas card. The Miami News Record shared a statistic showing that over 60% of senior care home residents have never had a visitor during their whole stay. Imagine spending the Christmas season alone...with no plans to visit family and no cozy candle-lit bedside to lay in. It sounds harsh and sad, but it is the reality that many of our seniors experience during this time of the year. Not only does this loneliness cause pain during the Christmas season, but extreme isolation can ultimately lead to feelings of abandonment, depression and anxiety, and a decline in physical health.
Your Christmas donations to senior care homes can make a huge difference: for example, a financial donation could be used towards a holiday celebration in the senior care home or to provide the elderly with Christmas gifts on the morning of. If you choose to donate physical Christmas gifts for the elderly, you will have the opportunity to provide them with entertainment (books, movies, music, games) and a feeling of belonging. Your gift could be the only Christmas gift that a senior citizen receives during the holiday season: it means more than you know.
Improve quality of life
Seasonal depression can correlate directly with a decline in physical and mental health. By donating to a senior center, especially during the Christmas season, you are brightening many lives. If the elderly have a Christmas gathering at their senior care home to look forward to, you have already done your job in improving their quality of life, even just for a short while. By donating a physical Christmas gift to an elder, you could improve their quality of life long-term: with books, clean and new clothing, hobbies like knitting and coloring, and more.
If you are looking for a simple way to get involved, we encourage you to get a group together and search terms like, “best gifts to donate to elders” or “donating to senior care homes near me” or look into a Santa for Seniors organization. Call your local senior care home or assisted living home and ask what they are in need of this year: you might be surprised.
It is the right thing to do
Spreading cheer is the reason for the holiday season. While you are enjoying time off from work or school and are surrounded by family and friends, there are thousands of senior citizens spending their Christmas season alone, without gifts, and longing for that something to bring them a joyful season. As a community of able-human beings, we have a responsibility to care for our elders even for something that seems as simple as donating a Christmas gift. There are no expectations for Christmas gifts: holiday donations for senior care homes can be as simple as dropping off decorations for the employees to surprise the residents with, putting together care packages with little notes, sending hand-written Christmas cards, donating financially, or many other options. A huge reminder that with the pandemic in place, seniors are experiencing extreme loneliness. In a time like this and during a festive-filled Christmas season, we encourage you to come together to provide the elderly with a loving and warm spirited Christmas and holiday season.
While there are many, many reasons to send Christmas donations to senior care homes, we hope just one of these 7 reasons will resonate with you. We are all aware that it is the right thing to do and can help combat feelings of isolation that many elders feel, and a tax deduction is just a benefit of being a good person and contributing towards society. There are so many ways to make a difference this holiday season: donate senior supplies to local senior care homes, “adopt” a senior citizen this season and specifically search for the best gift for that elderly woman or man, or donate handmade cards to seniors.
If you do not have the funds to assist senior care homes this season, there can be many other ways that you can send Christmas donations to senior care homes. For instance, donate a few hours of your time on a weekly basis. Pending the regulations due to the pandemic, if the senior care home allows visitors spend a few hours per week singing Christmas carols, watching Christmas movies, or decorating the lobby of the senior care home with the elderly. Many senior citizens have very few (if any) visitors during the Christmas and holiday season, which can lead to feelings of being isolated and depressed. By going above and beyond for elders in your community and spending time with them, you can be the joyful “Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus” that many of our elders are in need of this year.
If you DO have the funds to donate to a senior care home, make it a priority during this upcoming holiday Christmas season. Get a group of family and friends together and encourage them to do the same. Whether you choose to purchase and send Christmas gifts to your local senior care home or donate financially on their website(s), both the senior citizens and employees are sure to be grateful for your support this time of the year. If there is anyone deserving of a little Christmas cheer, it’s our senior citizens.
If there is a certain location you are looking to donate to this holiday season, we always recommend calling ahead and seeing if the employees or residents are in need of anything specific. It’s also good to know what they can and cannot accept. For example, some senior care homes cannot accept food products due to dietary restrictions their residents have. Additionally, many locations are not accepting visitors or physical gifts during this time of the year due to the pandemic, therefore monetary donations are greatly appreciated.
Regardless of your “reason,” our duty as a community is to care for our elderly. Let’s spread joy, deck the halls, and remind ourselves of the reason for this holiday season.Title: 7 Reasons to Send Christmas Donations to Senior Care Homes
Subheader: Put on your Santa hat and join us in spreading holiday cheer for our senior citizens!
During the holiday season, elderly residents living in senior care homes can feel lonely and isolated from the festive and joyful outside world. While the holiday season is typically spent surrounded by family, baking delicious treats, watching festive movies and listening to Christmas carols, many times we forget about the senior citizens living in assisted living and senior care homes. While these seniors may not be capable of hosting their own holiday celebration or baking a home-cooked meal, they are worthy of receiving a merry and bright holiday season. If you are looking for a way to give back and are feeling charitable this year, we encourage you to look for ways to provide Christmas donations for seniors. From handmade cards to Christmas gifts, holiday decor or monetary donations, senior care homes are in need of all donations. While many senior care homes are being cautious due to the pandemic, there are plenty of ways to donate and send gifts for senior citizens while in quarantine. Below, we have rounded up 7 reasons to send Christmas donations to senior care homes.
Whether you are planning to donate handmade Christmas cards to seniors this year, financially donate funds, or have free time to donate and spend with the elderly, read on for 7 reasons to send Christmas donations to senior care homes this holiday season.
You can make a big difference.
According to the American Health Care Association, there have been 550 assisted living home closures between 2015 and 2019. Due to being extremely underfunded and understaffed, senior care home employees cannot afford holiday decorations or gifts to bring their residents joy. Because of this, many seniors experience the holiday season without a Christmas tree and without Christmas cards or gifts. By donating gifts for the elderly, you are making a huge difference not only for the senior citizens but also taking a weight off of the employees shoulders.
To find ways to make a difference in your local area, search terms like “donations for elderly near me” or “senior center donations near me.” There is even options for programs where you can “adopt” a senior for the holiday season. By choosing this option, you can search for the best gifts for the elderly based on their needs, wants, hobbies, and interests.
Tax Deductions
A huge benefit of donating to charitable causes like assisted living and senior care centers is the ability to deduct the costs from your taxes. Once an assisted living or senior care home becomes a nonprofit organization, you can deduct any monetary donations you have made when filing your personal taxes. While we know your reason for donating to senior care homes during the Christmas season goes beyond this reason, it is a benefit that many people forget about. For both sides, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
Pro tip: Make sure you (or the senior care home) can provide the appropriate paperwork stating their tax exemption. These tax deductions can reduce your taxable income.
Age in place safely
Aging is universal: each and every one of us will be there one day. Whether we would like to think that far ahead or not, we’re human. A small financial donation can provide long-term, safe stability for the elderly and a physical Christmas gift can provide happiness and a feeling of belonging. Your donations provide the senior care home location to provide the best possible service as possible. The monetary donations senior care homes receive can be used in a variety of ways: for electric and heating bills, cable bills, employee funds and staffing, daily meals, furniture (bedding, clean sheets), cleaning supplies, medical supplies, festive Christmas decor, clean socks and underwear, and generally everything that brings senior citizens the proper care they need and most importantly, deserve. During the Christmas holiday season, especially in colder climates, heating bills are an expense that many senior care homes may struggle with paying. Something as small as a $10 donation could be used towards bills that improve the location that our elderly are living in. Each and every one of these reasons listed are beneficial in providing safe and joyful living spaces for the senior citizens that reside at each and every senior care home location, long-term.
Maintain their independence
Caregivers and employees of senior care homes do wonders to provide their residents with a feeling of respect and independence. You too can help local (and beyond) senior citizens feel like an important part of the community by giving Christmas gifts that allow them to practice their independence. Between puzzles, books, DIY craft kits like knitting or needlepointing, journals, coloring books, and more, there are plenty of Christmas gifts you can give to help provide independence for senior citizens. According to the US News Health Category, some of the best Christmas gifts for senior care home residents are quilts or blankets, slippers and socks with grippers, framed photos and artwork, stuffed animals, magazine or newspaper print subscriptions, and more.
If you are on the search for gifts for seniors in senior care and assisted living homes, be sure to think about all of the logistics involved. They may not always have a friend able enough to enjoy their gift with, so games or activities that can be completed and enjoyed independently are great options. They also may not have the space for huge “toys” so opting for something like a sketchbook and crayons may be a better gift than a large, heavy framed art print. If you happen to have the time to spare, bring a puzzle or movie to a senior care home and enjoy it with the elderly. Company from a visitor can truly be the greatest gift an elder can receive.
Combat isolation
Many seniors struggle with seasonal depression, especially during the holiday Christmas season. They may not have family living locally, they are no longer able to continue their usual Christmas traditions, and some may not even receive as little as handmade Christmas card. The Miami News Record shared a statistic showing that over 60% of senior care home residents have never had a visitor during their whole stay. Imagine spending the Christmas season alone...with no plans to visit family and no cozy candle-lit bedside to lay in. It sounds harsh and sad, but it is the reality that many of our seniors experience during this time of the year. Not only does this loneliness cause pain during the Christmas season, but extreme isolation can ultimately lead to feelings of abandonment, depression and anxiety, and a decline in physical health.
Your Christmas donations to senior care homes can make a huge difference: for example, a financial donation could be used towards a holiday celebration in the senior care home or to provide the elderly with Christmas gifts on the morning of. If you choose to donate physical Christmas gifts for the elderly, you will have the opportunity to provide them with entertainment (books, movies, music, games) and a feeling of belonging. Your gift could be the only Christmas gift that a senior citizen receives during the holiday season: it means more than you know.
Improve quality of life
Seasonal depression can correlate directly with a decline in physical and mental health. By donating to a senior center, especially during the Christmas season, you are brightening many lives. If the elderly have a Christmas gathering at their senior care home to look forward to, you have already done your job in improving their quality of life, even just for a short while. By donating a physical Christmas gift to an elder, you could improve their quality of life long-term: with books, clean and new clothing, hobbies like knitting and coloring, and more.
If you are looking for a simple way to get involved, we encourage you to get a group together and search terms like, “best gifts to donate to elders” or “donating to senior care homes near me” or look into a Santa for Seniors organization. Call your local senior care home or assisted living home and ask what they are in need of this year: you might be surprised.
It is the right thing to do
Spreading cheer is the reason for the holiday season. While you are enjoying time off from work or school and are surrounded by family and friends, there are thousands of senior citizens spending their Christmas season alone, without gifts, and longing for that something to bring them a joyful season. As a community of able-human beings, we have a responsibility to care for our elders even for something that seems as simple as donating a Christmas gift. There are no expectations for Christmas gifts: holiday donations for senior care homes can be as simple as dropping off decorations for the employees to surprise the residents with, putting together care packages with little notes, sending hand-written Christmas cards, donating financially, or many other options. A huge reminder that with the pandemic in place, seniors are experiencing extreme loneliness. In a time like this and during a festive-filled Christmas season, we encourage you to come together to provide the elderly with a loving and warm spirited Christmas and holiday season.
While there are many, many reasons to send Christmas donations to senior care homes, we hope just one of these 7 reasons will resonate with you. We are all aware that it is the right thing to do and can help combat feelings of isolation that many elders feel, and a tax deduction is just a benefit of being a good person and contributing towards society. There are so many ways to make a difference this holiday season: donate senior supplies to local senior care homes, “adopt” a senior citizen this season and specifically search for the best gift for that elderly woman or man, or donate handmade cards to seniors.
If you do not have the funds to assist senior care homes this season, there can be many other ways that you can send Christmas donations to senior care homes. For instance, donate a few hours of your time on a weekly basis. Pending the regulations due to the pandemic, if the senior care home allows visitors spend a few hours per week singing Christmas carols, watching Christmas movies, or decorating the lobby of the senior care home with the elderly. Many senior citizens have very few (if any) visitors during the Christmas and holiday season, which can lead to feelings of being isolated and depressed. By going above and beyond for elders in your community and spending time with them, you can be the joyful “Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus” that many of our elders are in need of this year.
If you DO have the funds to donate to a senior care home, make it a priority during this upcoming holiday Christmas season. Get a group of family and friends together and encourage them to do the same. Whether you choose to purchase and send Christmas gifts to your local senior care home or donate financially on their website(s), both the senior citizens and employees are sure to be grateful for your support this time of the year. If there is anyone deserving of a little Christmas cheer, it’s our senior citizens.
If there is a certain location you are looking to donate to this holiday season, we always recommend calling ahead and seeing if the employees or residents are in need of anything specific. It’s also good to know what they can and cannot accept. For example, some senior care homes cannot accept food products due to dietary restrictions their residents have. Additionally, many locations are not accepting visitors or physical gifts during this time of the year due to the pandemic, therefore monetary donations are greatly appreciated.
Regardless of your “reason,” our duty as a community is to care for our elderly. Let’s spread joy, deck the halls, and remind ourselves of the reason for this holiday season.
Would you like to volunteer to fulfill the Christmas wishes of a very special senior this holiday? If so, sign up to Adopt-A-Senior.