Staff, volunteers rally to make Christmas spirits bright at Veterans Home

The halls of the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls are silent this Christmas.

In the past, the facility has been alive with carolers, dancers and events during the holiday season, but COVID-19 restrictions have put a damper on this year’s Christmas season.

“In the past, we were always really busy with people coming in during the holidays. This year has just been so quiet, but we are doing the best we can with what we are safely able to do,” Volunteer Coordinator Denise Holm said. ““I know our residents are missing the interaction they would have with outside groups coming in around Christmas time. I have heard several times this week how much they miss the music programs. It’s just been tough.”

Missing from the facility’s main Christmas tree this year are the red, white and blue ornaments featuring photos of each of the residents. Those decorations now adorn the dozens of smaller trees that have been used to decorate each resident’s room in the hopes of lifting their spirits during this most unusual Christmas.

With the residents of the home’s two units not allowed to co-mingle and group activities canceled for the foreseeable future, hearing from friends and family has become an even more enjoyable treat, but even that comes with restrictions.

With the help of several iPads for Facetime and Zoom calls and a pair of portable Facebook Portal stations, the staff of the Veterans Home has been hard at work helping residents stay in touch with friends and family. Those who do make the trip to the home to visit must do so from behind the safety of a glass door, using an intercom system to communicate.

According to Holm, the restrictions are taking a toll on the residents.

“It’s hard for them to not have their families around and the ones that did have family that visited regularly are now having to visit with them from behind a glass door. Being able to see each other helps, but it is hard for family members to not be able to hug their loved ones,” she said. “These veterans have already lost so much and now they are losing what little they have left. It’s hard on them and of course it affects them. Now that it's winter, they can’t even really go outside, either.”

DESPITE THE restrictions, there has been plenty of good news this holiday season. Volunteers and service organizations are hard at work finding ways to keep traditions alive and raise spirits.

Residents have been able to keep their usual Bingo games alive, though numbers are drawn each morning and announced through the daily newsletter.

Each resident’s name tag has been claimed from the VFW’s annual Angel Tree at Kalispell Center Mall, ensuring they will all receive a gift this Christmas. Unfortunately, gifts will not be able to be delivered directly to the veterans this year. Those who chose names will have to give the presents to volunteers outside of the home, who will make sure they get to the right recipient.

The American Legion was unable to host its usual shopping trip with the home’s residents this year, but found another way to keep the Christmas spirit alive. In past years, the group had accompanied veterans on a shopping trip where each resident would buy one gift for themself before picking out gifts for their family. The American Legion would then make sure the gifts made it to their families.

This year, the American Legion donated funds for the purchase of additional gifts to go along with the ones usually purchased for the residents by the Veterans Home. Coordinating with Holm, they were able to make sure each resident will receive gifts tailored to their personal tastes.

“We have always gotten the residents gifts in the past, but with the help of the American Legion, this year each resident will be getting some extra gifts,” Holm said. ““We usually do all of our Christmas gifting on one day, but this year we will be able to do something every week to help keep their spirits up.”

Other groups have donated stockings full of gifts and other goodies, but Holm says there are still ways to help the home’s residents this year.

“All the names have been claimed from the angel tree, but there are still tags with items that we need year round,” she said. “We are always in need of things like remote controls for the televisions (which she says are misplaced and lost often) as well as gift cards for local restaurants. With the gift cards, we can provide a treat by bringing in food they don’t usually get to eat.”

It might not be the Christmas that everyone is used to, but everyone at the Montana Veterans Home is working hard to make sure it is a good one.

“It will definitely continue to be an unusual year for the residents and staff here, but we are doing all we can,” Superintendent Joren Underdahl said.

Reporter Jeremy Weber may be reached at 758-4446 or jweber@dailyinterlake.com.