With Christmas just around the corner, the Troy Health and Rehabilitation Center is, once again, making plans for Santa Claus to visit its residents.

Dorothy Thompson is, even COVID-19 is not going to keep Christmas from coming to TH&R.

“Our residents look forward to Christmas with so much excitement,” Thompson said.  “In fact, all of us enjoy the Christmas season and our residents look forward to getting gifts.”

And, almost as much as the residents enjoy getting presents, those who “adopt a resident grandparent, enjoy giving the gifts.

Thompson said, each year TH&R’s “Adopt a Grandparent for Christmas” program is well supported by local residents.

“Of course, because of patient confidentiality, we are not able to give the names of the grandparents that are adopted, only the room number,” Thompson said.

This year TH&R’s Adopt a Grandparent Christmas program will be different from in the past.

“Because of COVID-19 we are keeping it simple. The residents will make individual wish lists,” Thompson said. “We are asking those who adopt a grandparent to make gifts of bath and body gift sets and fruits covered with plastic.”

Thompson said the Christmas season is important to the residents because of the significance of the season and because it brings back fond memories of their childhood and people they love.

Christmas 2020 will be different from Christmases past but the residents at TH&R will have opportunities for outside visits with family members, Thompson said.

“Outside visits are now allowed with restrictions,” she said. “Temperatures must be taken before the visit, masks must be worn and social distance must be maintained. But the visits are looked forward to by the residents and their family members. So, being able to visit will family members will make it a merry Christmas for our residents.”

Those who would like to Adopt at TH&R Grandparent for Christmas 2020, may do so by calling Thompson at 566-0880.