Celebrating in the Hospital on Christmas, Hanukkah and Beyond
Having an unexpected hospital stay is challenging any day of the year — but it’s especially hard around the holidays. Though seniors and people with disabilities may prefer to be home with their family and friends, there’s still a chance to bring the joys of the season to the hospital halls. Read on for Paraquad’s tips for celebrating in the hospital on Christmas, Hanukkah and beyond.
Liven Up the Room
Hospital rooms are often bare, with minimal decorations besides the basics. However, many people cannot fully get into the holiday spirit without the decorations that come with it. Luckily, one of the best ways to celebrate the holidays with family is to decorate for the occasion.
Small decorations may be put up throughout your loved one’s room, such as:
String lights
Stockings
Banners
Holiday flowers
It’s important to remember that most hospitals may have rules around decorations due to fire safety standards. We recommend checking with a nurse or other staff member before you deck the halls during your hospital stay!
Bring Old Traditions to Them
One of the best parts of the holiday season is engaging in traditions with family members and friends. Since your loved one has to stay in the hospital this holiday season, it may be helpful to bring their favorite traditions to them.
Old traditions offer some of the best ways to celebrate the holidays with family — luckily, many can be easily done in the hospital on Christmas, Hanukkah and beyond. Some of our favorite recommendations include the following:
Baking a tray of cookies to decorate
Creating a holiday playlist to listen to
Compiling home movies on a DVD to watch
Bringing old photo albums to flip through
Opening presents together
Start a New Tradition
Though the holidays may look different this year, you can try to embrace the differences and foster new memories together. If you reframe your mindset, hospital stays can be your opportunity to shake things up and create lasting new traditions with your loved ones.
One of the best ways to celebrate the holidays with family is by doing an activity together, such as:
Writing letters to your future selves
Making paper snowflakes
Painting holiday ornaments
Making holiday tie blankets
Creating a holiday photo shoot
Planning a holiday movie marathon
Exploring international holiday traditions
Stay Connected with Loved Ones
A stay in the hospital on Christmas, Hanukkah or another holiday may mean changes to your travel plans. While you may not be able to see all of your friends and extended family members, technology will help you stay connected during the holiday season.
If your loved one feels up to it, use Facetime or Zoom to host a virtual family gathering from their hospital room. A quick call offers one of the best ways to celebrate the holidays with family. This gives you a chance to share happy memories, recap events from the past year and lighten the mood in difficult times.
Embrace the Emotions
You may feel sad that your loved one needs a hospital stay during the holidays. Remember: It’s completely okay to feel that way. Health issues can be scary, so it's only natural to feel a bit down despite the season.
Open and honest conversations may help everyone feel a bit better throughout a stay in the hospital on Christmas, Hanukkah or another holiday. Be willing to share your perspective and open the floor for your loved one to share theirs. These conversations will help your loved one with a disability feel heard and help them accept the situation as it is.
Happy Holidays from Paraquad
We hope your holiday season is both merry and bright — whether you’re experiencing a hospital stay or celebrating at home. And, as we welcome the new year, we hope you continue to trust Paraquad as a resource for people with disabilities and their families.
We welcome you to learn more about disabilities in 2025! Visit the Paraquad blog for the latest educational resources from our team.
