The Best Time to Visit a Senior Living Community Is During the Holidays

The holidays are a magical time filled with family and friends, wonderful food, and fun festivities. Carving out time for a tour of a senior living community during the holidays may not be on the top of your list, but it may be well worth your time, as it provides a priceless view into community life and your potential future home. A vibrant retirement community will be buzzing with activities for residents during the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels like home for the holidays. Here are some compelling reasons to visit a senior living community during the holiday season:

1. Get into the Holiday Spirit

Experience a winter wonderland when you visit during the holidays. There’s nothing quite like visiting a place when the halls are decked with twinkling lights, garlands, wreaths and holiday décor. Just imagine what it’s like to live on a beautiful campus that shines brightly with lights and decorations everywhere you look — all without having to lift a finger to decorate on your own!

2. Attend Holiday Events

Whatever you enjoy most about the holiday season — cookie baking, caroling, holiday arts and crafts, holiday-themed meals, or sitting by a cozy fireplace — you’ll find fun ways to continue your favorite traditions when you move to a retirement community. Get a sense of the energy of the community by touring during the holidays, when there are plenty of opportunities to experience the sights, tastes, and sounds of the season.

3. Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Delicious meals and festive treats are in abundance during the holiday season. This is a great time to sample the holiday menu, enjoy a meal and join in the festivities. We invite you to join us for restaurant-style dining or stop by our Mountain View Café for hot cocoa and other holiday favorites when you visit Grace Ridge.

4. Meet Residents and Staff

The holidays bring people together, and it’s a wonderful time to meet new people. When you tour a community, you have a chance to mingle with staff and residents, and ask them what they love about the community. You may even be pleasantly surprised to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances from your past.

5. Spread Joy Across Generations

Visiting a community provides a window into the culture, hospitality, and volunteer spirit of a place and the people who live there. At Grace Ridge, our Grace Ridge Toymakers have a tradition where residents and staff volunteer to make stuffed animals for local children. The toys are then given to children in the UNC Health Blue Ridge Hospital. It’s a wonderful way to give back during the holidays!

6. Explore Area Attractions

From the Christmas Parade in Morganton to the Polar Express Train Ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding area offer festive fun for everyone during the holidays. Read our blog post about holiday events in Western North Carolina you don’t want to miss.

7. Discover New Traditions

Family traditions may evolve when you move to a retirement community; however, those traditions can flourish in a new setting where families are welcome to join in the celebration. Opening your heart to new holiday traditions is good for the mind, body and spirit, and a senior living community provides the perfect setting to try something new.

Find Your New Home for the Holidays

The holidays are a perfect time to reflect on the past while looking forward to an exciting future. Taking a tour during the holidays can help you get a sense if this is a place that could be your new home. Our Christmas on the Ridge event at Grace Ridge provides the perfect opportunity to tour the community and experience exceptional independent living firsthand. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit our beautiful campus nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We invite you to schedule a tour and experience all we have to offer at Grace Ridge during the holidays and all year round.