Helping Seniors Get The Most from Their Holidays

Everyone looks forward to the holiday season. The get-togethers, long hours catching up with extended family, exchanging gifts, and the respite from work all make holidays a time we all love. However, sometimes seniors might need a different approach with a customized plan to best navigate and enjoy their holidays. Whether your loved one lives at home with in-home care or resides in a senior care community, here are some suggestions to help them have an enjoyable holiday season.

Involve Them in Preparations for The Holiday

When you are nearing the holiday season, try to always get your loved ones involved in the holiday planning and connected with the preparations. Remember that they want and need to feel useful, even when there are physical issues that affect their mobility or cognitive impairment that can limit their participation.

Simple activities such as wrapping gifts or making pastries and decorations will make your loved ones feel more a part of the celebrations and help them to have an uplifting holiday season.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead will help a senior navigate the sometimes unpredictable holiday season when more of their loved ones are present. Maintaining a regular schedule and routine as much as possible, including continuing familiar in-home care support when feasible, can be crucial to your senior’s positive holiday experience. A customized Plan of Care specific to your loved one can be invaluable to refer to when a regular caregiver is not available. Also consider making sure there are quiet spaces that your senior can retreat to whenever they might feel overwhelmed by the ongoing festivities.

Be Thoughtful

When you are with your senior loved one, appreciate the fact that old age may influence memory gaps. You may find yourself and your loved one reminiscing about the good old times. If a topic comes up that they have no memory of, be thoughtful about your comments. Avoid comments such as, "don't you remember!" or " why are you so forgetful!". Your loved one may also benefit from naps and quiet time.

Fight the Blues

After the busy holiday season, a senior can experience an overwhelming feeling of sorrow and sadness, usually called 'holiday blues.' These can lead to increases in any underlying cases of depression and should be addressed in a timely fashion to help avert a further deterioration of mental health.

In summary, a supportive environment and a customized plan that specifically addresses your senior’s individual needs and includes routine, a regular schedule, and familiar faces can help ensure a memorable, successful holiday season - for your senior and for you.

We are Here for You

Senior Helpers can assist your loved ones and your family to help make the holiday season more memorable and less stressful. Contact us today to learn more about our customized in-home care services and how we can help.