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PARKERSBURG - There's no place like home for the holidays.

Most people try to get home to celebrate the holidays, but when that's not possible because you're in the hospital or a nursing home, it can be a sad, lonely time of year.

But local nursing homes and hospitals do their best to spread Christmas cheer, bringing the spirit of the season to their patients and residents who can't be home for Christmas.

"We know that not all patients will be able to be at home with their families over the holidays, so it is our goal to make their stay as comfortable as possible and adopt them into our hospital family," said Jill Parsons, vice president at St. Joseph's Hospital.

"Patients and visitors should experience the holiday spirit through our decorating and the sounds of the holidays. In the days prior to Christmas a team of St. Joseph's Hospital employees and physicians will be caroling throughout the hospital. The facility is seasonally decorated and the sounds of carols can be heard in several departments," Parsons said.

Special notes and holiday treats are distributed on the meal trays for the inpatients at St. Joseph's on Christmas Day.

"Our pediatric patients have the opportunity to take home a new book, thanks to a wonderful donation from the local Borders Book Store last year," Parsons said.

Greg Smith, with Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, said the hospital is still finalizing its plans for the holiday season.

Area nursing homes also take part in Christmas time activities to raise not only the spirits of their own residents, but to give back to the community as well.

"At the Willows, our recreation department has many different events set up for the holidays. We are going to have the residents make homemade Christmas ornaments to decorate the cookie platters we are going to deliver to our local police, fire departments and transport companies to show our appreciation for their services," said Chris McBee, administrator Genesis Health Care Willows Center. "The residents will go along in the facility van to assist with delivering the goodies."

Another event this year at the Willows will include staff caroling throughout the facility just before Santa Claus makes an appearance to help with the annual gift exchange.

"We also have planned our Willows Red Hat Society Christmas Tea for the ladies and our Christmas Men's Breakfast. Those are just a few of the events we have planned to boost our residents' spirits around the holidays," McBee said.

Mary Maxwell, with Eagle Pointe Nursing Home, said their facility provides a number of holiday activities for its residents.

"We have numerous activities planned for our staff as well as our residents for Christmas. We will be having resident decorating parties, our residents help us decorate the tree," Maxwell said.

"There will be numerous churches coming in with caroling groups, and we have a holiday dance program which is being provided by Tina's Dance Studio," she said.

Cedar Grover Personal Care Home has a whole host of activities lined up.

"There are residents here that no longer have families, for them we try to have them adopted out through local community service groups and churches who come in and visit and bring gifts. It's really nice," said Kay Swisher, facility coordinator. "

"One of the things we do every year is our open house concert. We have a musical group called The Cedar Grove players who play piano and guitar, and other instruments. They put on a concert every year during our open house which is scheduled for Dec. 20 this year. We also feature different residents who have vocal talents, play piano and other instruments, perform solos during the open house concert for the families," she said. "We usually have 80-90 family members come out and listen."

Swisher said there is Christmas caroling as well.

"Various groups from the community come in to entertain, we have some line dancers, the Voices of Faith from South Parkersburg Baptist Church, a group from the Williamstown Woman's Club, the Hamilton Choir and the Parkersburg Catholic Elementary choir will all be performing. We also offer a special Christmas Eve church service for our residents who want to attend," she said.

"The residents are also having a fundraiser this year on Dec. 12. For the past six weeks they have been handcrafting special ornaments that will be offered to the public for sale. We have residents who enjoy crocheting, painting, knitting. There is a group of about 25 who have been working on the ornaments that would make nice family heirlooms. We will be having that sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 12," Swisher said.

"Many of the residents' families come in, it's a joyous time of year, we try to keep everyone as active as we can, and encourage them to reminisce about their wonderful holiday memories," Swisher said.