The holiday season should bring joy, but for many older adults it’s often tinged with sadness. The loss of spouses, isolation, lack of family rituals and health concerns can lead to depression. Being aware of changes in mood and behavior, plus having an active plan, can help seniors feel joyful throughout the holidays.
Here are some ideas to get seniors through the season:
Continuing traditions
Holiday rituals are important to most seniors. Help them decorate their apartments, wrap presents and send holiday cards to their loved ones. If your loved one is a churchgoer, help them attend religious services, and ask if he or she can help with volunteer efforts, such as gift buying and wrapping. At Springbrooke, our van plans regular trips to nearby houses of worship and many religious providers come to our community.
Plan holiday outings and events
Help seniors stay busy, especially if they are living alone. Plan visits and outings. Check in regularly with quick phone calls to let them know you are thinking about them. Consider using some of Springbrooke’s ideas for keeping your at-home senior engaged. Our residents help decorate the entire community. Schoolchildren regularly drop by to help residents create seasonal crafts. Holiday shopping and trips to see holiday lights are big deals. Carolers, cookie baking, serving traditional foods and sharing memories are built into our calendars and into our everyday interactions.
Reminiscing
Missing a deceased loved one is natural during this time of the year. We all absorb grief in different ways. Make time to listen to your loved one talk about their families, traditions and life stories. At Springbrooke, our seniors can create scrapbooks to carrying on their stories, which is important to preserving family histories for younger generations. These rituals and memories honor the loved one in meaningful ways and facilitate grieving.
Accepting emotions
There’s nothing wrong with not feeling jolly. Urge your loved one to talk about his or her emotions. Our caregivers, staff and other residents act as sounding boards. We all need to be kind to ourselves, look for support and even laugh at ourselves every now and then.
Thinking about others
Interacting with neighbors, visitors and friends help seniors focus on others, instead of themselves. Sometimes making a simple phone call, having a chat over coffee or writing a greeting card can brighten moods.
Staying healthy
Lack of good nutrition and inactivity can fuel depression. Keep your senior’s diet healthy and interesting. Springbrooke residents are encouraged to attend our many fitness classes and to soak in the sunshine on our patio on warm days.
Pampering yourself
A great haircut or hot shave can feel wonderful. How about a pedicure with a leg massage? Plan these events with your senior! Springbrooke’s in-house salon also offers these services.The real meaning of the holidays is to be thankful for what we had, what we have now and what the future will hold.