Updated on Monday, 15ᵗʰ December, 2025
New Year’s Eve is an opportunity to have fun and get creative with a party. Some great theme ideas include:
- The roaring twenties
- The fabulous fifties
- Feather boas and fedoras
- Masked Ball
- Casino Royale
Decorations should be easy to source from the local party supplies store - add to the festivities with some party poppers for the big countdown.
Set up an area for dancing and put together a playlist suiting your theme. If possible, stick to favourite tunes that your residents are familiar with.
Set out a table for food, so residents can easily access nibbles and easy to eat finger food.
Make a delicious ‘mocktail’ punch bowl of some refreshing iced tea on hand to make the evening feel like a party.
Entertainment and activities
A nice idea for entertainment is to have a photo slideshow of the year’s highlights. You could also put pictures up around the room of activities and events from throughout the year.
Make things fun with a trivia quiz - relate it to people and recent activities at your facility.
Another game that could go down well is celebrity heads - provided nobody gives away the answer!
Have a lucky door prize or a best-dressed award for your residents to look forward to.
Setting up a photo booth is easy and fun for residents and staff! Find quirky props at second hand shops or ask friends and families of residents to contribute. You can print out the photos and create a photo-board that will keep everyone entertained for months!
Party Food
Finger food is ideal for a New Year’s Party. Easy to pre-prepare and easy for residents to eat as they enjoy the activities and entertainment.
Finger Food Favourites - our top three easy to eat party foods.
Fresh flaky pastry filled with flavour and nutrition, these are easy to pass around and eat for your residents to eat as they enjoy the festivities.
No matter what age - mini sausage rolls with a tasty tomato dip will always have a place at a party. Certain to be popular.
Slightly more substantial but still simple to eat and delicious with the tang of lime aioli, serve on a bed of fresh lettuce with a light sprinkle of lime juice for the aroma!
Download our Re:fresh Finger Food recipes for more inspiration for your New Year’s Party.
Moving midnight
While your aged care residents may not be eager to trip the light fantastic until the clock strikes twelve, it doesn’t mean you can’t ring in the new year together.
Wind the clocks forward and set your ‘countdown’ for 9:30 or 10pm to allow everyone to celebrate before heading off to bed without overdoing it. Provide some tea, coffee and biscuits for those who want to wind down before turning in.
Ring in the New Year with a fun party
Get your residents ready to celebrate with a colourful menu.
Enhance the New Year atmosphere
Keep the party mood going with decorative table talkers.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is created for inspiration purposes only. It is not intended as clinical, medical or nutritional advice.
Entertainment and activities
A nice idea for entertainment is to have a photo slideshow of the year’s highlights. You could also put pictures up around the room of activities and events from throughout the year.
Make things fun with a trivia quiz - relate it to people and recent activities at your facility.
Another game that could go down well is celebrity heads - provided nobody gives away the answer!
Have a lucky door prize or a best-dressed award for your residents to look forward to.
Setting up a photo booth is easy and fun for residents and staff! Find quirky props at second hand shops or ask friends and families of residents to contribute. You can print out the photos and create a photo-board that will keep everyone entertained for months!
Party Food
Finger food is ideal for a New Year’s Party. Easy to pre-prepare and easy for residents to eat as they enjoy the activities and entertainment.
Finger Food Favourites - our top three easy to eat party foods.
