The holidays can be beautiful, but they can also feel heavy. Shorter days, colder weather, budget worries, and memories of loved ones who have passed can all make this time of year feel more lonely than joyful—especially if you’re aging in place at home.
Planning a few gentle, realistic holiday activities for seniors can make a big difference. The goal isn’t to have a picture-perfect season, but to build small moments of comfort, connection, and meaning.
Whether you’re a senior yourself, a family caregiver, or a loved one helping someone age in place, these ideas are designed to be flexible. You can scale them up or down depending on energy levels, mobility, and schedule—and many can be done from the comfort of home.
Here are ten uplifting holiday activities to try this year.
1. Host a Simple Decorating & Music Afternoon
You don’t need an entire box of new decorations to create a cozy holiday feeling. Put on your favorite seasonal music, set out a few ornaments, and focus on small, meaningful touches:
- A wreath on the front door
- A string of lights around a window
- A small tabletop tree or centerpiece
Invite a family member, neighbor, or friend to help. While they hang lights or set up decorations, you can sit comfortably nearby, direct where things go, and share stories about holidays from years past.
If driving or getting to the store is difficult, consider using a delivery service for decorations or supplies so you can enjoy the fun part—choosing and arranging—without the stress of errands.
2. Create a Holiday Hobby Project
Instead of viewing the holiday season as a rush of to-dos, treat it as a chance to lean into a hobby you love. A dedicated project can give structure and purpose to days that might otherwise feel long.
Some ideas:
- Knitting scarves, hats, or blankets
- Painting or drawing winter scenes
- Baking batches of cookies over a few weeks
- Working on a puzzle table with a festive theme
You can turn your hobby into a way to connect. Give what you make as small gifts, donate homemade items to local shelters or community groups, or invite others to join you for “craft time” once a week.
If getting out to pick up supplies is tricky, you might pair your hobby project with grocery, craft, or pharmacy delivery so everything you need comes straight to your door.
3. Plan Traditions You Can Actually Keep
Many older adults feel sad when they can’t host or celebrate exactly the way they used to. Instead of comparing this year to holidays from decades past, create a few manageable traditions that fit your current lifestyle.
For example:
- Watch the same favorite holiday movie every year with hot cocoa.
- Schedule one “cookie day” where you bake (or decorate store-bought cookies) with grandkids.
- Take an annual photo in front of your decorated home or a favorite cozy corner.
The key is to keep it simple and repeatable. Even one or two small traditions can anchor the season and give you something to look forward to, without exhausting your energy or budget.
If transportation is a barrier, family or friends can use rideshare services on your behalf so everyone can still gather safely and comfortably.
4. Schedule Social Check-Ins and Game Nights
One of the most powerful ways to protect emotional well-being during the holidays is to plan connection on purpose. Instead of waiting to see who calls, set up a simple schedule of check-ins and low-pressure activities.
You might:
- Ask a friend or family member to pick a weekly phone or video call time.
- Host a small game night with easy-to-learn games like bingo, dominoes, or card games.
- Join a local senior center’s holiday event calendar, in person or online.
Let your loved ones know that these interactions truly matter. Many people don’t realize how much a 20-minute call, a quick ride over for coffee, or a simple board game can brighten someone’s week.
If getting to a game night or social gathering is challenging, arranging a ride in advance can remove a huge layer of stress and help you stay involved in your community.
5. Take Gentle Holiday Walks or Try Chair Exercise
Movement is one of the most effective tools for boosting mood, easing anxiety, and improving sleep—especially during darker winter months. You don’t need an intense workout; short, gentle movement is enough.
Ideas to consider:
- Bundle up for a 10–15 minute walk to admire decorations or lights in your neighborhood.
- Follow along with an online chair yoga or stretching class.
- Put on holiday music and do simple movements in your living room.
If walking outside isn’t possible where you live, chair exercises are a great alternative. Many seniors enjoy video-based routines tailored to older bodies and various mobility levels, so you can move safely and at your own pace.
If you’d enjoy walking in a decorated mall or local park but don’t drive, booking a ride can make these outings possible without relying on multiple friends or family members for transportation.
6. Create a Memory & Gratitude Corner
The holidays can stir up both beautiful and painful memories. Instead of avoiding those emotions, you can gently honor them by creating a small “memory and gratitude corner” in your home.
This might include:
- A few framed photos of loved ones
- A holiday card display
- A notebook or jar where you write down memories or things you’re grateful for
Spend a few minutes each day sitting in this spot, looking at photos, and reflecting. You could:
- Write down one favorite holiday memory from your life
- List three things you’re grateful for that day
- Jot down small wins, like “had a lovely phone call” or “laughed during a movie”
Over time, this corner becomes a visual reminder of joy, connection, and resilience, even if this year looks different from years past.
7. Honor Loved Ones with Gentle Rituals
Missing loved ones during the holidays is a sign of deep love—and it’s completely natural. Permitting yourself to grieve and to honor those memories can make the season feel more healing than painful.
You might:
- Light a candle for someone you miss before a meal
- Play their favorite holiday song and share stories about them
- Cook one dish they always loved and enjoy it in their honor
- Write them a letter, expressing what you wish you could say this year
If your grief feels especially heavy, pair these rituals with a supportive connection—invite a friend, family member, faith leader, or counselor into the conversation. Grieving together can make memories feel sweeter than overwhelming.
8. Give Back from Home
One of the most meaningful holiday activities for seniors is finding ways to give back, even if leaving home is difficult. Acts of kindness can spark a sense of purpose and strengthen your connection to the wider community.
Consider:
- Writing cards for neighbors, nursing home residents, or service members
- Knitting or crocheting hats, scarves, or blankets for local shelters
- Donating small items through online wish lists or charity drives
- Calling someone else who may be lonely over the holidays
You can also ask a family member or caregiver to help coordinate drop-offs or pickups, or use delivery services to send donations and gifts directly where they’re needed.
Even small acts—like a kind note to a neighbor or a friendly call—count as giving back. They remind you that you still have so much to offer.
9. Plan Virtual Celebrations with Faraway Family
If loved ones live in other cities or states, travel may not always be realistic. But you can still celebrate together virtually with a little planning.
Some ideas:
- Host a video call while you all decorate cookies or trees in your own homes.
- Share a favorite family recipe and cook it “together” on video.
- Have a virtual gift opening or card exchange.
- Ask grandchildren to put on a short holiday performance—songs, jokes, or a mini play.
For those who aren’t comfortable with technology, a family member can set up devices in advance, save important phone numbers, and show you how to join calls with one or two easy steps.
If you’d rather not manage apps at all, you can keep it simple with festive phone calls. What matters most is hearing each other’s voices and staying in each other’s lives.
10. Enjoy a “Stress-Free Errand Day” with a Little Help
Holiday errands can be exhausting at any age—especially if you’re juggling mobility challenges, crowds, or winter weather. One of the most practical “activities” you can plan is a stress-free errand day where you intentionally make things easier on yourself.
For example, you might:
- Schedule a ride to a holiday event, doctor’s visit, or gathering so you don’t have to drive in traffic.
- Use grocery delivery to stock up on ingredients for your favorite seasonal meals.
- Arrange a meal or pharmacy delivery so you can stay cozy at home.
Services like GoGoGrandparent are designed specifically with seniors and disabled adults in mind. They make it possible to access rides, groceries, meals, and prescriptions by phone—without needing a smartphone app—so you can spend less energy on logistics and more energy enjoying the season.
Think of this as gifting yourself peace of mind: fewer stressful errands, more time for the people, hobbies, and traditions you love.
GoGoGrandparent: Making the Holidays Brighter at Home
A joyful holiday season doesn’t require big travel plans or complicated events. It’s built from small, thoughtful choices—like scheduling friendly check-ins, moving your body a little each day, honoring your feelings, and saying “yes” to help when you need it.
GoGoGrandparent can be part of that support system. By coordinating rides, grocery delivery, meal delivery, prescription drop-offs, and more, GoGo helps older adults:
- Stay independent without taking on risky or exhausting errands
- Show up to holiday gatherings safely and on time
- Keep their homes stocked and comfortable during the winter months
With the logistics taken care of, you can focus on what truly matters: meaningful conversation, cozy moments, and traditions that feel good at this stage of life.
Final Thoughts
The holidays may look different as you age, but they can still be deeply meaningful. A handful of realistic, heartwarming holiday activities for seniors can turn a season that feels lonely or stressful into one that feels calmer, more connected, and more you.
Whether you decorate a little corner of your home, share stories with family, give back in small ways, or let GoGoGrandparent handle the errands so you can rest, every step you take to care for yourself emotionally and physically is a gift.
You deserve a season filled with kindness, connection, and moments of genuine joy—exactly where you are, just as you are.
