Spreading Holiday Joy To Senior Living Residents
The holidays bring joy, gratitude, and celebration; yet they may also stir tender memories of loved ones who are no longer present. For many seniors, this season highlights not only the absence of familiar family gatherings, but also the gradual changes that come with aging. These realities can deepen feelings of loneliness, grief, or emotional fatigue—especially in senior living environments.
To address these needs, ECS chaplains offer holiday-focused expressive arts and spiritual care activities that ease isolation, encourage creativity, and foster a supportive sense of community. In these gatherings, shared storytelling, presence, and attentive listening invite seniors to honor memories, express emotions, and reconnect with one another.
Throughout the season, chaplains help facilitate community through activities. encouraging seniors to support one another as they create door decorations, ornaments, gift cards, and seasonal crafts together. These moments often open the door to one-on-one pastoral conversations, allowing chaplains to provide deeper care as grief or holiday challenges emerge.
Chaplain Resident Amy Russian celebrated Thanksgiving with residents at St. Mark’s Tower, supporting the distribution of holiday meals generously provided by the Greek Orthodox Church. Rather than eating alone, many residents chose to enjoy their meals together with Chaplain Amy, creating a warm atmosphere of companionship and connection.
“My heart was touched by witnessing the residents’ warmth and care for one another. Being present allowed me to offer several one-on-one spiritual care moments throughout the afternoon.” — Amy Russian, Chaplain Resident
ECS chaplains offer holiday-focused expressive arts and spiritual care activities
Amy also facilitated a holiday grief support circle at St. Mark’s Gardens in Kaysville, where residents honored long-standing family traditions while exploring new ones that better fit their current abilities and energy. One 100-year-old resident, for example, shared that large family gatherings had become overwhelming, so she now welcomes loved ones in smaller groups—a meaningful act of self-care affirmed by her neighbors.
At Millcreek, a new resident expressed deep gratitude for being able to create in community for the first time in years. After spending several past holiday seasons alone, she now feels connected, supported, and spiritually uplifted—experiences that are central to ECS’s mission of compassionate presence in senior living facilities.
As part of these care efforts, five CPE Residents recently spent a day with tenants at St. Mark’s Tower. Sixteen participants gathered from late morning through the afternoon to enjoy lunch, music, storytelling, crafts, and creative expression.
Events such as these fill room with warmth, creativity, spiritual care, and meaningful human connection—a beautiful reminder that community, presence, and shared expression are powerful gifts during the holiday season.
