Why are the Christmas decorations...?

Question

...in many retirement homes more geared to kindergardners than to senior adults? I find the decor. to be tacky and way over done and really childish.

addendum: In Asst. Living place I'm most familiar with, the decors. were not made by school children, but rather bought/crafted by staff...yikes

Answer 1

I agree with you that many I've seen are too childish. I suppose it's because many people have the misconception that the elderly are less intelligent than they were when they were younger, or have entered into a "second childhood". Another reason could be that the decorations were donated by school children.

Answer 2

I think the decor and answer to your question totally depends on the retirement home, it's staff, the residents, the family of the residents, and the owners. I've seen holiday decorations like you describe, and also beautiful well coordinated decorations.

It's possible that the activities staff members are not very artistic, or perhaps they are young and inexperienced. I suspect that tiny budgets (or no money at all for decorations) and staff turnover are the big reasons that Christmas, or any other Holiday, decorations seem tacky.

My daughter worked at a Nursing Home for nearly 3 years; first as a nurses aid and then as an activities assistant (beginning just after her 18th birthday). She was constantly printing articles and word games from our home computer and printer/copier, pilfering my craft supplies, using my old magazines, bringing in our CDs and DVDs, using her camera to photograph folks, and using parts of her tiny pay check to bring items in for the residents she cared for. She was very young, maybe a bit immature, not an artist.....but she did care for the residents a great deal. She would have loved it if any of her residents or their families suggested alternatives or helped with decorating.

My question is why don't the families and friends of the residents....or residents themselves, speak up if the decorations don't work? Maybe they could work with the staff, contribute something, to make things more appropiate.

Answer 3

I try to avoid these places . The scent of Lysol trying to cover up the stench of death is reeking.At least that's my memory as a child visiting. I prefer to go to the Veterans Hospital and distribute books and magazines. I have to let them know that they are not forgotten.Most were struck down in the prime of their lives.

Answer 4

Not around here, they have beautiful decorations.