Where Joy Lives: Celebrating the Holidays Together in Senior Living

Choosing to move to a senior living community marks the beginning of a new, exciting future. When you choose Fleet Landing, you enjoy an upscale community just blocks from the beach, five-star amenities, and team members who go the extra mile so you can live an inspired life filled with meaning and fun. 

During the holidays,  your new home offers you the opportunity to use your creativity to blend your long-standing traditions into your new lifestyle. Living at Fleet Landing gives you access to festive on-site seasonal events and exciting outings. Make the most of your holidays in senior living with these tips. 

Create a Holiday Scene That Is Special to You

Whether your tradition has been to go all-out with themed decor or keep it simple with a classic tree covered in white lights, decorating for the holidays in your new home provides you the opportunity to refresh your holiday decorating while holding on to the special traditions that make you feel at home. 

For many Residents, moving into a senior living community offers the excitement of new friends, new traditions, and the chance to create many new memories. Gone are the hassles of a 10-foot-tall Christmas, for the “right-size” version that glows just as bright and will fit perfectly in your new home. Similarly, a battery-operated menorah makes lighting the candles each night during Hannukah simple and joyous.

Reflect on your decorating traditions and routines to decide what still works and what needs to be modified. Finding ways to incorporate the festive trimmings you use every year infuses your home with sentimental touches. It makes your new space feel comfortable and familiar, which is especially important during the holidays. Personalizing your seasonal decor makes holidays in senior living memorable and helps you embrace the holiday spirit. 

Get in the Spirit with Holiday Events and Programs

Festive events and programs offer a break from your day-to-day routine, bring joy and excitement to your day, and may bring back memories of old family traditions. It's a great way to start creating new traditions in your senior living community. 

At Fleet Landing, Residents enjoy many holiday programs within the community. Joining neighbors at these jolly events is a great way to make new friends and enjoy the holiday cheer. Residents also have the opportunity to explore all that the Jacksonville area has to offer during the holidays. 

Consider an evening excursion to look at holiday light displays, enjoy beautifully decorated spaces on a holiday homes tour, or attend a seasonal choir or orchestra performance. Popular holiday events in the Jacksonville area include the Glowing Gardens at the Jacksonville Aboretum & Botanical Gardens, the annual Jacksonville Community Nutcracker, or Nights of Lights in St. Augustine. You can find additional events in the community by looking for event calendars from local travel sites, chambers of commerce, and city pages. Facebook is also a popular place to discover local events. 

Volunteer and Give Back

The holidays offer the perfect time to give back to your community. Many nonprofit organizations host special fundraisers or organize seasonal programs that require extra help to be successful. Some examples include:

• Adopting a family to provide gifts for the holidays
• Collecting holiday food donations for local food banks
• Serving holiday meals at a shelter
• Wrapping packages for organizations that collect and distribute gifts
• Assembling care packages for deployed soldiers
• Baking holiday cookies for the front-line volunteers of local organizations
• Visiting residents of hospitals or hospice facilities to bring holiday cheer

Research local charities with causes that are meaningful to you, and reach out to ask how you can assist them at this time of year. BEAM is a local organization that serves low income individuals in the Jacksonville beaches area. Volunteers can help with food drives, participate in fundraising events, and even plant, tend, and harvest from the BEAM garden to provide fresh produce to those in need.

Here at Fleet Landing, we have a group of Residents who deliver beautifully decorated Christmas trees to those living in our Health Services neighborhoods. Some also participate in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, ringing bells for fundraising efforts. These traditions are a wonderful way to spread joy and give back to the community. 

WELLInspired throughout  the Holiday Season

Taking care of your mental and physical wellness during the busy holiday season is important. With so many engagements, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or worn out. One way to support your well-being is by continuing your normal routines, including eating three healthy meals daily and exercising regularly. Following your regular routines offers familiarity, and maintaining your social connections helps you fight the holiday blues that can affect people of all ages. 

Maintaining balance is also important. If you're attending many holiday gatherings, bring healthier holiday desserts so you can enjoy treats while sticking to a healthy diet. Being selective about which holiday events you attend keeps you from getting overwhelmed and allows you to enjoy mental and physical rest when needed. 

Even with your best efforts, you may need a little extra emotional and mental health support. It is common for the holidays to bring about an increase in stressors that you may face. With Fleet Landing's proprietary WELLInspired™ program, Residents receive support in all areas of life, including emotional and spiritual, to achieve true wellness. Leaning into those community resources can help you thrive through the holidays. When you need additional support, visiting with a mental health professional offers you personalized care and strategies to help. 

Visit Fleet Landing During the Holidays

Picture your future holidays at Fleet Landing with a visit during the season. Call us at 904.748.2252 to schedule a visit during one of our informational sessions and give yourself the gift of a dream retirement life.