One of life’s greatest pleasures is entertaining guests — and that’s something that can remain a part of your life when you move into a Primrose community.

“First and foremost, the community is your home, and we encourage our residents to welcome their friends and families,” said Melanie Perry, Primrose life enrichment and cognitive well-being specialist. “Maintaining those relationships brings a lot of joy — and that’s the stuff of life, isn’t it?”

Here are some of the many wonderful ways to entertain guests at a Primrose community.

Invite guests for a meal

You’re always welcome to invite guests to your apartment or townhouse, but the easiest way to entertain is to let Primrose do all the work.

Primrose’s chef and kitchen staff can plan a menu with you and deliver the food to your apartment, or you can simply invite your loved ones to join you in the beautiful community dining room — just alert the staff ahead of time.

If you want more privacy, many communities have separate dining spaces where you can also entertain guests.

Entertain for special occasions and holidays

Do you have a birthday coming up? Are you looking for a way to celebrate an anniversary? Is a grandchild graduating from school? Just reserve a private dining room and work with the chef to plan a meal as special as the day.

“At one of our communities, we had a resident who reached the age of 106, and friends and family celebrated that extraordinary milestone at the community,” Perry said. “It was a wonderful tribute to this person’s life and history.”

For your anniversary, create a memorable dinner for two in a private dining room. One couple chose a “wine and roses” theme and turned the space into an elegant restaurant, with roses on a white tablecloth, fine wine and a dinner worthy of a five-star restaurant, created by the Primrose culinary team.

You’re also welcome to host a group you belong to, like a book club, bridge club or the social club. Invite them to meet at Primrose, and as with any event, you can plan food or refreshments with the kitchen staff.

And don’t forget the holidays and seasons. The seasonal décor puts everyone in a festive mood, and holiday feasts are served on or close to the date. If you have out-of-town-visitors, family who’d rather not cook at home or friends who may be alone for the holidays, invite them to the community celebration, or host your own holiday party in a private room.

Have guests join you in community activities

From morning till evening, seven days a week, Primrose has a full calendar of exciting events. Ice cream socials, bingo, movies and live music are just a few of the most popular, and your friends and family are always welcome.

One of the most popular events for guests is the weekly happy hour. They can enjoy a drink, great hors d’oeuvres and entertainment — and there are plenty of nonalcoholic beverages, too, for kids or teetotalers.

Entertaining for memory care residents   

For memory care residents at Primrose’s Silver Lace communities, especially those in the early stages, visits are cognitively stimulating and extremely important.

One Primrose community recently threw an open house for Silver Lace residents, going all out with balloons, banners and table decorations, and delicious food served from gleaming chafing dishes.

“Silver Lace residents chatted with their family members and friends, and the mood in the neighborhood was absolutely joyful,” said Perry.

If you have a loved one in a Silver Lace community, consider planning a meal or activity that will make the visit special for both of you.