Surviving Thanksgiving for Seniors and Caregivers

Thanksgiving is one of the cornerstone holidays of America, a feast celebrating family and togetherness, upon which one of the foundational tales of our country rests. While everyone certainly enjoys good food, a cozy atmosphere, and seeing friends, family, and other loved ones, the amount of stress, travel, effort, and planning that goes into the holiday can be a great source of negativity for some, ruining their enjoyment or perhaps making them come out the other end with a bad taste in their mouths, no matter how many helpings of pumpkin pie they have.

If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior loved one, one great thing about a family holiday is you’ll have plenty of help on hand. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you’re starting to feel overwhelmed or put out. Put your elder relative in the hands of another family member or loved one, and give them a chance to put them in good hands.

For seniors, while the food focused traditions of Thanksgiving will provide many good things to eat and drink, keep in mind your limitations. With age frequently comes dietary difficulties, whether due to medications, your gut health changing, or health conditions. It’s important to keep any dietary restrictions in mind and avoid overindulging and causing yourself discomfort or health problems.

Additionally, the arrival of Thanksgiving and the approach of winter means the flu season is upon us, and if there’s anything we’ve learned over the pandemic, it’s that the more people, the more risk of infection. Don’t hesitate to schedule your flu shot and any COVID vaccines or boosters you might need.