How can I decorate a nursing home?

Your projects may be restricted by the nursing home, due to flammability issues and vapors, if ignited.

Best to check with the Fire Marshal in that facility, before proceeding.

These are things my mother in law has enjoyed:

cookie decorating

felt or foam art (snowman, heart, flag, cross, flowers)

decorating solo cups

door hangers

wreath

She gives them to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren which gives her double the joy - making & giving.

You might also consider googling kids crafts. I would think that would work for seniors as well.

Hi , If you have any free sites you could ask for old glass candle holders individual glass pudding dishes you know the type and give them foilage ribbon and tinsel etc and ask them to decorate them for the middle of the tables.

I make simple wreaths out of garbage bags or scraps of fabric. You need a wire clothes hanger, this is shaped into a round. Then cut up strips of garbage bags or scraps of fabric approximately 15cm×4cm, then tie on to wire hanger. No need to knot. Bunch until you can get no more on.

You can also do the same with smaller pieces of fabric, net or ribbon tied to curtain rings.

Below are some I made.

First and last photo below are curtain rings.

Third picture is a heart wreath.

Second the rag wreath, fourth the garbage bags.

These are simple to do, just one tie many times.

Hi Jewell, things like bookmarks, ornaments, and handmade stationary are some ideas. Check out these tutorials:

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/rooms/easy-diy-ribbon-bookmarks-2106493

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/-11591799?expand_all_questions=1

Wendy, thanks for jumping in with ideas and illustrations and citations. I’m really taking this seriously now. I may accept it as a personal challenge. ☺️

Window and mirror clings are easy and can be really pretty (think snowflakes, stars). My mother used to really enjoy them!

I had an older friend/distant relative that would cut up old greeting cards and use to make new cards on heavy paper.

Hi! For a simple crafting idea that can also be used for decorating the nursing home, I made these peppermint candies out of paper plates, ribbon or twist ties and cello wrap. Hope you like!

The week of and after Christmas is the time to load up on seasonal plates and napkins, but there are three months of Winter to follow until Spring. Even in Texas, snowflakes and snowmen are the symbols for Winter, even if we don’t get snow that Winter. Time to watch for sales, and on Saran type wrap, too. ☺️

Merry Christmas Jewell

What a fun “Job” you have! How about creating some snowmen with card stock or cardboard and cotton balls.Then perhaps some mittens or little gloves one could decorate with ribbon and maybe a sprig or two of maybe candy canes or poinsettias to hang on their doors.

Maybe with their names on them.

Or play a game and have them write some else’s name on them then guess who made it. ( inside the mitten would be the answer)

maybe no peeking until Christmas lol

Cut out those old Christmas cards and add glitter and ribbon .

How about some paper mache ornaments. They could be small so your “ peeps” wouldn’t be impatient.

Decorate candy canes. Make some mistletoe . Santa hats with their names on them. ( if you want your people to make them take two pieces of felt and some shoe strings dyed red and they can “ sew them “ in some holes you prepared. That’s a some prep time on you though.) Same with stockings.

or hit the dollar tree!

Glue large beads together with the small ones and make caterpillars.

Or cut toilet paper rolls into “ slices”and you can create butterflies 🦋

I hope some of these ideas help

Good Luck 🍀

Dear Ireland 🍀, these are all excellent ideas. I am not the activities director and my health would not allow me to be, but I can do anything (safe) that I like to do to assist. I’m getting inspired for the rest of the year. Marry Christmas! ☺️