At Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel, Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude that brings residents, families, and team members together in meaningful ways. From chef-prepared feasts and gratitude-centered activities to festive gatherings that honors every individual’s unique story, the holiday season here embodies everything that makes senior living in Gambrills, MD special: warmth and that deep sense of belonging.
How Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel celebrates Thanksgiving with award-winning service and Dining with Dignity® traditions
The meaningful activities and programs that foster connection during the holiday season
Why Thanksgiving at a senior living community supports emotional wellbeing and family bonds
How The Arbor Company's nationally recognized programs create joy-filled, dignified holiday experiences
The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving is the meal, and at Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel, the culinary team transforms this tradition into something extraordinary. Executive chefs work for weeks planning special Thanksgiving menus that honor both classic favorites and personal preferences. Picture a beautifully appointed dining room with a wood-beam ceiling, tables set with autumn-themed décor, and the aroma of roasted turkey, sage stuffing, and homemade pies filling the air.
What makes these meals truly special is Dining with Dignity®, The Arbor Company's award-winning program. This nationally recognized approach ensures that every resident, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, can enjoy their Thanksgiving meal with independence and grace. Chefs use special preparation techniques to create nutritious, restaurant-quality dishes that are easy to manage. Food is presented in appetizing, bite-sized portions that maintain full nutritional value while allowing residents to dine comfortably on their own terms.
For seniors in the Bridges neighborhood who are experiencing early-stage memory challenges, the Dining with Dignity® program shines even brighter. The quieter, more intimate dining environment reduces stress and allows for genuine conversation. Team members who understand each resident's preferences ensure that favorite dishes appear on plates and that dietary needs are met without sacrificing the joy of the holiday feast.
Beyond the table, Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel creates opportunities for residents to express thankfulness and share their stories throughout November. Gratitude walls appear in common areas where residents can write notes of appreciation or share what they're most grateful for this year. These simple displays often become treasured conversation starters, revealing shared experiences and sparking new friendships.
Storytelling circles bring generations together as residents share their favorite Thanksgiving memories. A World War II veteran might recall a humble celebration overseas, while another resident describes their grandmother's secret cranberry sauce recipe. These moments honor each person's unique journey while creating new memories with neighbors who become like family. Through The Arbor Company's Deep Connections® philosophy, team members take time to truly know each resident, ensuring that activities reflect individual interests and lifestyles.
Creative activities abound during the season. Residents gather in the arts and crafts room to create festive centerpieces for tables, paint autumn landscapes, or arrange seasonal flowers from the courtyard garden. The beauty of these programs is their flexibility. Someone who loves to paint can spend an afternoon creating, while another resident might prefer to watch and chat over coffee from the bistro café.
Thanksgiving at Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel welcomes families with open arms. The community hosts special family celebration days where loved ones can join residents for the feast, tour the beautifully decorated building, and experience firsthand the vibrant lifestyle their family members enjoy. The spacious dining areas accommodate everyone from young grandchildren to extended family members, creating multigenerational moments that become cherished traditions.
What families discover during these visits is how seamlessly their loved ones have integrated into community life. They see Mom laughing with tablemates, Dad trading jokes with a staff member who knows his service history, or Grandma showing off photos from a recent outing. These observations provide reassurance that choosing senior living in Gambrills, MD, was a gift.
The community's location adjacent to Waugh Chapel Towne Centre adds another dimension to family celebrations. After a meal at Arbor Terrace, families might take a short walk to see a movie at the AMC IMAX theater, browse holiday displays at nearby shops, or grab coffee together at one of the Towne Centre's cafés. This connection to the surrounding community helps families maintain normal traditions while creating new ones.
Thanksgiving reminds us to give as well as to receive, and Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel embraces this spirit through community service projects. Residents often organize food drives, create care packages for local families, or contribute to charitable causes that reflect their values. These activities tap into the Purposeful Living dimension of the community's engagement framework, allowing residents to make meaningful contributions that extend beyond the community's walls.
One particularly touching tradition involves residents writing gratitude letters to first responders, healthcare workers, or military service members. These heartfelt notes, often decorated with seasonal artwork created in activity programs, remind both writer and recipient that connection and appreciation matter at every age. For residents transitioning from careers spent helping others, these give-back traditions provide continued fulfillment and purpose.
Throughout the fall, the community transforms into an autumn wonderland, not through expensive decorator services, but through the creative talents of residents themselves. Small groups gather to create seasonal displays for common areas, string lights in the outdoor courtyard, or arrange pumpkins and gourds in welcoming vignettes near the grand entrance.
This collaborative decorating serves multiple purposes. It keeps hands and minds active, provides opportunities for social connection, and gives residents ownership over their environment. When a family member comments on the beautiful autumn arrangement in the lobby, hearing "Yes, I made that with my neighbor!" becomes a source of pride and accomplishment.
While Thanksgiving brings joy, it can also stir complex emotions for families navigating care decisions. At Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel, the holiday season demonstrates how life in a senior living community supports rather than diminishes wellbeing. Residents who might have felt isolated or overwhelmed by holiday preparations at home now participate in celebrations without stress or exhaustion.
The community's Health & Wellness programs and amenities continue throughout the season with a grateful twist. Gentle yoga classes might include gratitude meditations, walking groups that explore colorful fall foliage at nearby parks, and brain fitness programs that incorporate Thanksgiving trivia that honors residents' memories and knowledge. These activities support emotional balance during a season that can feel bittersweet for some.
Not every family member can travel to Gambrills for Thanksgiving, but they don't have to miss the celebration. Through modern communication technology, residents video-call with distant loved ones, sharing virtual tours of holiday decorations or introducing tablemates to family members across the country. Team members help less tech-savvy residents connect with video calls, ensuring that everyone who wants to share the day with family can do so.
Photos from community celebrations are shared through family communication platforms, allowing adult children to see their parents' joy in real time. These glimpses into daily life provide reassurance and strengthen family bonds even when miles separate loved ones.
What sets Thanksgiving at Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel apart is the thoughtful integration of The Arbor Company's nationally recognized programs. Deep Connections® ensures that team members understand each resident's holiday traditions and preferences. Dining with Dignity® makes every meal an experience of independence and respect. The community's engagement programs across all wellness dimensions—from spiritual gatherings to creative arts—ensure that everyone finds meaningful ways to celebrate.
Backed by The Arbor Company's 30+ years of expertise in senior living, Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel brings both innovation and heart to holiday celebrations. This isn't a clinical environment where holidays feel institutional; it's a warm, family-like community where traditions old and new flourish.
Located at 2535 Evergreen Road in Gambrills, Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel serves families throughout Anne Arundel County, including Crofton, Odenton, Annapolis, and surrounding areas. The community's central location, which is roughly 20 minutes from Annapolis and within easy reach of both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., makes it convenient for families coming from different areas to gather for Thanksgiving and other celebrations.
The community offers both assisted living and memory care in the specialized Bridges and Evergreen neighborhoods, ensuring that as care needs change, residents can remain in the familiar, comforting environment they've come to know as home. This continuity of care means that Thanksgiving traditions established in one level of care can continue as needs evolve.
Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel celebrates Thanksgiving with chef-prepared feasts enhanced by Dining with Dignity® traditions that honor independence and personal preferences
Gratitude activities, storytelling circles, creative projects, and give-back traditions create meaningful connections and support emotional wellbeing
The community's family-like atmosphere and Deep Connections® philosophy ensure personalized, joy-filled celebrations
Modern communication technology keeps distant family members connected during holiday celebrations
Location in the heart of Anne Arundel County makes it easy for families from Gambrills, Crofton, Odenton, and beyond to gather
The Arbor Company's 30+ years of expertise bring nationally recognized programs to every holiday celebration
Yes! The community welcomes family members to join Thanksgiving celebrations. Families can reserve spaces for special holiday meals, allowing multiple generations to celebrate together in the beautifully appointed dining areas. The team encourages families to schedule visits in advance to ensure adequate seating and meal preparations.
Through Dining with Dignity®, chefs work with care teams to understand each resident's dietary needs, preferences, and abilities. Special preparations ensure that everyone—including those with diabetes, swallowing difficulties, or memory changes—can enjoy a full Thanksgiving feast safely and independently. In the Bridges and Evergreen neighborhoods, dining environments are specially designed to reduce stress and maximize enjoyment.
Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel offers diverse Thanksgiving activities, including gratitude walls, storytelling circles, seasonal crafts, autumn-themed decorating projects, give-back traditions, gentle wellness programs with gratitude themes, and opportunities for video calls with distant family. Activities reflect residents' individual interests and abilities, ensuring meaningful participation for everyone.
Many residents discover that Thanksgiving at Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel brings more connection and less stress than celebrating at home. Instead of managing shopping, cooking, decorating, and cleanup, residents enjoy professionally prepared meals and beautifully decorated spaces while focusing on what matters most: relationships, gratitude, and celebration. The family-like atmosphere and presence of neighbors who've become friends often create richer holiday experiences.
The integration of The Arbor Company's nationally recognized programs, such as Deep Connections®, Dining with Dignity®, and other comprehensive engagement across all wellness dimensions, ensures that celebrations honor each person's individuality and dignity. Combined with the community's warm, family-like culture, resort-style amenities, and location adjacent to Waugh Chapel Towne Centre, residents experience holidays that are both extraordinary and deeply personal.
The holidays offer a perfect opportunity to see firsthand how Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel creates meaningful, joy-filled experiences for residents every day. From the aroma of chef-prepared dishes to the laughter echoing through beautifully decorated spaces, Thanksgiving here embodies the connection, belonging, and celebration that define life in this award-winning community.
Experience the warmth, connection, and joy of the holidays at Arbor Terrace Waugh Chapel. Schedule a tour today to see how our community celebrates Thanksgiving, and every season, with heart.