Hop to It: Many Ways Senior Living Residents Can Celebrate Easter
Easter means different things to different people, but you can make sure all your residents enjoy the holiday by making innovative, creative use of your spaces:
Spaces for Togetherness
The environment itself can shape how holidays are experienced. Bright, welcoming common areas, access to outdoor gardens, and flexible gathering spaces make it easier to host celebrations that feel both festive and comfortable. Natural light, seasonal décor, and thoughtfully designed seating areas encourage residents to come together, fostering a sense of belonging.
Brighten spaces with flowers. Lilies are popular Easter flowers and often adorn church altars during this holiday. Offer residents lilies that they can repot in their favorite Spring pots and planters. Or:
•Give residents large flower pots that they can fill with their favorite flowers/plants and have a contest with winners in different categories: Best Overall, Best Theme, Best Use of Color, etc.
•Invite a local nursery to do a pop-up store on-site with flowers, soil, pots, and gardening supplies.
•Have an adult scavenger hunt with prizes like gourmet chocolates, potted plants, and gift cards to an on-site or nearby coffee shop.
•Hold an Easter-themed door decoration contest. For instance, give interested residents a blank flat wooden egg, a cross, or a wreath they can decorate and hang on their door. Post photos in the lobby and have residents vote on their favorite.
•Have a Spring planting day. Have plants and gardening supplies and invite residents (with staff guidance) to plant flowers and other flora/fauna on the campus. Host a party for participants at the end of the day, featuring wine and cheese or coffee, along with an Easter-themed cake.
•Have an Easter-themed mocktail party with tasty nonalcoholic drinks such as the Pineapple Sunrise Easter Mocktail.
•Have an Easter parade for residents and families. Invite them for a walk through the campus in their Easter finery. Conclude with a reception featuring Easter-themed snacks and punch.
•Hold an Easter story time for kids. Let residents invite their grandchildren and others for an Easter story time and/or an Easter/Spring song singalong.
•Invite residents and families to a Spring petting zoo. Have local breeders/rescue groups bring (healthy and friendly) bunnies, chicks, puppies, and kittens that residents and their families can hold and pet.
Of course, everyone loves a traditional Easter egg hunt. Make it an event. Have an ‘egg-filling’ party the night before. Place plastic eggs, candy, and toys to fill them with, and serve snacks. Maybe have some live music. The morning of the hunt, have juice for the kids and coffee and donuts for the adults. Consider having someone dress as the Easter bunny and hand out Easter eggs or candy.
Hold an Easter church service onsite, if possible. If you don’t have a chapel, create a temporary one in a multi-purpose room. Coordinate with area churches to borrow hymnals and arrange for clergy to lead the service.
Have residents and families volunteer to play music. At the same time, consider compiling a list of local churches of various denominations and their Easter service times.
Whatever Easter means to your residents, you can make the most of your campus design and amenities to help them celebrate and enjoy the holiday with family and friends.
Read more about Easter celebrations here
Pi Architects | Contact us here or call us at 512-231-1910.
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