How to Help Seniors Combat the Holiday Blues

This is a magical time of year for so many. The twinkling lights and festivities of the season bring joy to millions. The end of a year brings hope for new beginnings. Memories that can last a lifetime are created around family gatherings and celebrations with friends and loved ones.

Unfortunately for many senior adults, this will not be the experience they are hoping for. Distance away from family, health problems, and mobility issues can all be reasons seniors are unable to participate in all that the holiday season brings. Many senior adults deal with depression as a result of loneliness and isolation, and it only gets worse during the holidays when everyone wants to be with the people they care for the most.

As a family member or caregiver, you may notice a change in the mood of your senior loved one during the holiday season, especially in seniors who no longer live at home. They remember holiday seasons when they were more active, younger, and before many of their loved ones had passed on. This time of year can bring about painful memories of everything they have lost.

There are steps you can take when your senior loved one is physically unable to travel for a  visit with family or actively participate in holiday celebrations. These simple steps help them stay connected with loved ones, make them feel like they still matter, and help to avoid the feelings of loneliness and isolation that so many seniors experience this time of the year.

– Plan ahead.
To make the holiday season memorable for your senior loved one it’s important to plan ahead. Create a list of activities that your loved one can participate in based on their ability. You can bake cookies ahead of time, and bring along the younger family members for a cookie decorating party. Holiday themed crafts are a fun and inexpensive way to create holiday memories. Hosting a Christmas carol sing along is always a hit with every age group.

If your senior loved one is a member of an assisted living community, speak with the staff to find out which spaces are available for hosting gatherings and what you need to do to plan an event. For seniors who are vulnerable to over-stimulation, try to plan gatherings that limit the amount of environmental noise and only plan a small number of activities to avoid confusion or irritability.

– Designate a companion.
Helping your senior loved one combat loneliness during the holidays is one of the best gifts you can give them. Set aside certain times to visit, and ask other family members to dedicate time as well so that the senior has frequent holiday visitors.

It’s also a good idea to go a little “above and beyond” for your loved one. Set up a special hair appointment in the hair salon of their assisted living community, paint their fingernails in festive holiday colors, gift them a special Christmas sweater, do holiday themed puzzles together, or invite your youth or church choir to do a special holiday performance in their honor.

– Take the focus of holiday celebrations off of gift giving.
There’s no denying it – gifts are one of the highlights of the holidays. Unfortunately, many seniors live on a fixed income and may not have the extra cash for presents. The inability to purchase gifts for the people they love can make seniors feel worthless, so it’s best to focus on making memories and family bonding instead. Ask family members to share their favorite holiday memory of your loved one when they visit. For family members who live far away, ask them to write letters of gratitude and appreciation for everything the person has contributed to their lives.

Terrace Ridge Assisted Living offers a discerning residential environment for those who, for whatever reason, should not live alone, but do not require skilled nursing care. Here, residents can live as independently as they wish, with the calm assurance that help is always available, should they require assistance with their activities of daily living. Residents may range from being very independent to being physically and/or memory challenged.

At Terrace Ridge, we understand just how important the holiday season is for families, and we work to ensure our residents are happy, engaged, and included during festivities and celebrations. If you are interested in hosting a holiday party for our residents or volunteering during the holiday season please contact us today.