During Advent, I have been conducting a series of discussions/forums on dealing with loss over the holidays. Our local nursing home asked me to develop the series because a number of the new residents were agonizing over being in a facility rather than with their families, and many had recently lost a spouse or other family member.

One of the most often asked questions was 'how do you celebrate a family-oriented holiday with member(s) of the family not there?' My suggestion was to pick one (and generally not more than one) special tradition, and try to keep it, even if you are in a nursing home. For example, have other members of the family bring you a favorite ornament to put on a small tree in your room. Or if there is a special dessert item, get a member of the family to make it,and bring it to the resident.

Padre