The holidays are a time of joy and connection, but they also bring unique operational challenges to senior living. During the holiday months, visitor traffic typically increases 40-60%, making it essential to strategically balance visits with resident safety and care.
This guide shares practical tips and strategies to help operators reduce stress, enhance safety, and create exceptional holiday experiences for everyone.
Essential Guidelines for Holiday Visits
With the surge in holiday visitors, resident safety becomes increasingly more complex.
Traditional paper sign-in sheets no longer meet the expectations and needs today. Many leading communities are switching over to digital check-in technology with real-time visitor tracking and activity. These systems not only strengthen senior living safety but also demonstrate an ongoing commitment to resident experience and connection.
Here are some top holiday tips for senior living operators:
1. Know Who Is Visiting Residents in Real-Time
A digital visitor management system gives staff real-time insight into who is in the building, which resident they’re visiting, and how long the visit lasts. Staff can also receive instant alerts about potential security concerns while maintaining clear documentation of community activity. These features not only enhance accountability, but also create a culture of safety and trust that lasts all year long!
2. Identify Visitors with Name Badges
At a glance, name badges provide immediate confirmation of identity, helping residents, families, and team members feel confident in who is in the building. This small detail plays an essential role in strengthening community experiences. As Jayne Sallerson, President and COO of Charter Senior Living, explains:
“I’m a big proponent of requiring name badges because it gives communities confidence that each visitor has been cleared to be in the building. It also reassures families that everyone in their loved one’s environment is accounted for.”
~ Jayne Sallerson, President & COO – Charter Senior Living
3. Stay Connected with Resident Families
Through Family Connect, family members can stay connected and informed about their loved ones care and social visit activity right from their phone. For those who can’t visit as often as they’d like, this small but powerful detail bring visibility and reassurance to families during this special time of year.
Special Considerations for Memory Care
For residents in memory care, the holiday season brings unique stressors: unfamiliar faces, irregular schedules, louder gatherings, and higher visitor volume. By managing visits thoughtfully, operators can help these residents have meaningful holiday experiences while minimizing stress.
Visitor management technology has transformed how memory care units support resident engagement and experience. Most importantly, it helps communities identify residents who may be at risk of social isolation based on low or declining visit frequency. When used strategically, social visit data gives operators a clearer view of resident connectedness and helps initiate additional support that boost resident satisfaction, community engagement, and overall quality of life.
Operators can also use visitor management technology to:
- Track visit patterns and duration
- Coordinate personalized engagement activities
- Maintain consistent communication with families
This data-driven approach helps operators maintain the delicate balance between safety, connection, and comfort during this busy time of year.
Looking Ahead: Holiday Visitor Management
The holiday season brings warmth and celebration to senior living communities, but it also demands heightened attention to safety, communication, and coordination.
By combining digital visitor management, real-time visibility, and clear identification practices, operators can transform a period of potential stress into one of meaningful connection. When safety and connection work hand in hand, every visit becomes more than a check-in—it becomes part of what makes senior living truly feel like home.
