 It’s that time of year ... family get-togethers, terrific meals, and entertaining to celebrate the holidays. Get ready to have more guests than usual in your facilities. Make sure careful thought and planning go into making your senior residents and their families feel safe and comfortable! Here are some key elements to remember when choosing furniture and holiday set ups:  Around the holidays we can be tempted to choose decorations or new fabrics with small and colorful patterns. But be careful and don’t go too busy; it can be distracting for seniors. Try to choose patterns with a smaller or more natural color palette to allow for your residents to feel comfortable.  Seating throughout your facility should be firmer than average to make it easier for a person with mobility issues to get up.  Smooth and rounded edges prevent skin tears and bruising.  Vinyl and stain treated fabrics help with occasional accidents and stains. The cleaner your furniture looks, the happier your families and visitors will be!  Always plan for larger pathways between furniture to allow for walkers and wheelchairs to easily maneuver about. Allow enough places for your guests to sit as well as your residents. Strategically place larger pieces of furniture so they can be used for balance while moving throughout the room.  Switch out round knobs for pulls and levers which can greatly help with access.  Taping down or tucking away cords eliminates the potential trip hazards. With the need for decorations during the holidays make sure all cords are taken care of, or chose decorations that are battery operated.  While style is important, well-designed, purposeful furniture is key. Having furniture that is too low, deep, or soft can make it difficult for your loved ones.   
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