What do you do during the holidays for staff at nursing home?

As someone who works at a senior living community, I know homemade baked goods are always appreciated. Also, some nonprofit senior living communities like the one I work at have a Christmas Employee Appreciation fund that families can donate to. The funds are then divvied among the employees.

Zam,
I'm afraid that would run into quite a sizable amount of money.

Just counting the workers in Labmom's mother's wing in the nursing home could be more than 10 people per shift that assist her. Then count the rest on the other 2 shifts.
A modest cash gift would be $5  and the card costs $1 =$6. times 30 staff members =$180.! 🤑
Probably too pricey for most folks but a nice thought.

Also, all the hospitals and institutions I worked for had a rule for their employees NOT to accept money as a gift. You would need to check the policy of the institution before hand.

Card with money

Lots of really great ideas!

RM, your concept of allowing Rainman to pay for a meal is very thoughtful and insightful. Too often we forget how much the people we care for have lost in terms of self respect and the ability to reach out and help others. I'm going to integrate your concept into my own plans, if you don't mind, It's a type of enabling self esteem.

Everyone else, really good ideas. I hadn't thought about the slicing of baked goods.

Usually I've brought bagels and donuts, which go quickly despite the fact that "everyone" is typically on a diet...well, I guess except for donuts.

Good point as well about shifts; I guess the next time I bring something I'll separate the goodies so that each shift has some.

Thank you all for the great ideas. I appreciate it. I like the idea of doing separate things for each shift. At least I know some things I was thinking is ok. Just an idea if anyone needs one when I worked in an office of approx 40 people I wanted to do something at Christmas but needed to keep it cheap. I got a pretty holiday kitchen towel rolled it up put curly ribbon around it & put a candy cane through it. Co workers loved this, it was pretty, thoughtful & inexpensive. I learned dollar tree has curly ribbon already done so much easlier to use than trying to curl it yourself.  Makes a cute gift.

You can go to the big box store and buy bags of assorted wrapped chocolates, and make gift baskets for each shift. I also like the idea of baking sweet breads if you like to bake,, of some of the grocery stores have big containers of cookies for $5 each. Delivered pizza is also a hit at my hospital if you can spend a bit more! And I do love a fruit basket! But really,, we love any food!

Having been a young nurse working ALL the holidays (before I built up a bit of seniority), we always appreciated sweets-whether candies or baked goods. If you bake them, it's really appreciated if you would cut/slice them so we can "grab and go".
Please, please, please remember all 3 shifts.
So often only Day shift would get the goodies. We'd see the crumbs on the empty tray when we'd come on duty at 11 pm :(
Try to guesstimate how many staff members for 24 hours and buy or bake accordingly. Thanks for thinking of them.

P.S. The dollar store or 99cent store have lots of little things for the holidays if you'd want to attach something to a nice chocolate bar as a personal gift to everyone.

They always appreciate baked goods. I was always taking in banana bread. Maybe a tray for each shift. You can slice up Pumpkin, banana, and zuccini bread. Make choc. chip cookies, rollouts spritz? I make peppermint bark. So easy.

I would find a nice combo “thank you” and “happy holiday” card - write an additional sentence thanking them all and give it with a 5lb. box of Sees chocolates for the staff break room.
Always a hit!

For my mothers private paid caregiver I would get the same type of card - write a personalized message and tuck a gift card for Barns and Nobel inside. She was a avid reader. 

My son has three paid “companions”. One girl and two guys.  All of them are in their twenties and incredibly hip and cool in the hippy/cool style unique to Oregon’s young adults. The guys each get a case of an Oregon micro-brew beer - holiday edition. The girl gets something more unique and personal as I’ve known her since she was about 6 yrs old. Last year she got a set of hand painted Christmas desert plates and a gift cert to a popular hippy-cool bakery. 
Also - since Rainman usually has lunch out with these companions on their daily outings - the outing they are with him closest to Christmas, I send enough money for Rainman to pay to take them somewhere nice for lunch. It’s a win-win as Rainman loves that too. 

I do tend to spoil Rainmans caregivers as they are all outstanding and I know how fortunate I am to have them. I want them to know - that I know that.