15 Ways to Infuse the Magic of Christmas into a Life Behind Hospital Walls

Christmas can be a very difficult holiday to bear if someone you love has to spend it in a hospital room by your side. The sights, sounds, and scents that would normally accompany this holiday are replaced by sounds of beeping machines, fluorescent lights, and days that seem to stretch into eternity. It can be very isolating for patients, and very painful for caregivers.

At BeWell, we believe that the hospital can be a place of comfort and dignity as well. The holidays are not canceled simply because a patient finds themselves in a hospital bed over the holidays. With a little bit of thought and planning, you can infuse a little bit of the warmth and wonder of the holidays into a place that might not otherwise feel so full of the spirit of the holidays.

‘Tis the Season of Giving – Ways to Care for a Loved One During the Holiday Season

1. Hot chocolate or holiday drink of choice
   If hospital policies permit, having something warm to drink may be extremely comforting. A cup of hot chocolate, hot tea, or an herbal “Season’s Greetings” drink may provide a sense of what is “normal” and “familiar.” Even the act of holding a warm cup may be reassuring.
2. Sending or delivery of Christmas cards
   Having a pile of Christmas cards will dramatically change a hospital room into a happy, cheerful, and festive atmosphere.
   Christmas cards serve as a reminder to a hospitalized family member that people are thinking of them, praying for them, and taking them with them in their hearts.
3. Light up your room using soft string lights
   Battery-operated string lights will immediately turn a cold room into a warm one. Hang these over a window, a headboard, or a wall and watch as a cold room transforms into a cozy one. Again, check hospital policies and keep it simple and safe.
4. Bring a wrapped gift under a mini tree
   A package with a gift inside provides something to look forward to, as well as the pleasure of opening it, just as it does at home. It does not have to be very large or costly. Even small gestures mean the most. Top it off with a mini tree with lights to have on the counter/window sill. 
5. Bring a blanket or comfort item of your own
   A hospital blanket is never comfortable. Having something like a blanket from home, a favorite pillowcase, or even a favorite scarf can promote comfort and security. Or, bring a new Christmas themed blanket to unwrap.
6. Play soft Christmas music
   Quiet holiday music can go a long way in creating ambiance without over-stimulating. Listening to a small speaker or headphones might be an ideal way for an individual to have their desired music while, at the same time, keeping the ambiance of a hospital.
7. Holiday movie or show to share
   A shared experience of watching a favorite Christmas movie is how you can create a typical experience that feels normalizing. Just watching together in silence can make the experience feel special.
8. Festive pajamas or casual clothes
   What they wear to make them feel comfortable and happy about the day they have ahead of them is important to their perception of this experience. Pajamas, socks, or other comfortable clothes give the patient back, so to speak, their identity while taking away their role as a patient. Christmas themed, even better.
9. Decorate with photos from home
   Photos of family, family pets, past holidays, and other important activities of daily life may serve as a reminder of who a person is despite a diagnosis. Photos of personal significance can be a very grounding experience during a long stay in a hospital.
10. Small surprises throughout a day
    In place of one massive act, you could spread out small actions. A card in the morning, a drink in the afternoon, and a gift at night will add rhythm to your day and something to wait for. Make them their own unique countdown/Advent calendar.
11. Bring the hospital staff on board too
    Taking the time to thank the nurses or staff with a note or a packaged snack can go a long way in creating a positive atmosphere in the room. Many caregivers can help in bringing a positive atmosphere to the room by working to make the day special when they realize they are valued.
12. Bring a holiday scent from home
    Smell can also be quite potent. A light scent of lotion, hand cream, or scented candle fragrance used properly in moderation can recall wonderful vacationing experiences.
13. Read a Christmas story or devotional
    Sharing a reading can be a very personal and soothing experience. Perhaps a short story, poem, or reflection would be a quiet way to connect that would not take a great deal of work on the part of the patient.
14. Enable them to take part remotely
    If there's a family event going on elsewhere, a video call can be a great option. Let them feel a part of it even if they can’t be there physically.
15. Just be there
    Sometimes the greatest present is presence. Just to be there. To sit there. To hold hands. To simply be there in the silence. To make Christmas in the hospital less lonely.

A Gentle Reminder

Christmas does not have to be perfect in order for it to mean something. Sometimes the smallest acts are the most important, particularly in environments where happiness is far more difficult to come by. Incorporating happiness into a hospital room is more than just adding some festive decorations and presents. Even in a hospital, there can exist the magic of Christmas.