The holidays are normally some of the happiest times of the year that are filled with family gatherings, festive meals, and heartwarming traditions. But it can also be a season that can make the seniors in home care feel lonely and frustrated. It is important to find ways for them to deal with their issues regarding health, mobility, or loss, so they can feel included and cherished during the festivities of the holidays. It does not even have to be complicated (or expensive) to make the holidays special for seniors. A few thoughtful strategies can bring them a lot of joy, connection, and the feeling of being included in the celebrations.
Create a Festive Atmosphere at Home
Even if they are receiving care at home, their environment can still be prepared to feel festive and welcoming. To brighten up their space, even simple decorations can be significant. You can lift the mood of the place instantly with simple holiday lights, or a festive centerpiece. Let them take part in the preparation of decorations if it is possible, so they can have an opportunity to reminisce about the past holidays and share stories. Or if they are not able to move around freely, try focusing on easy and simple tasks for them to perform, they can feel included and happy even with the simplest of tasks.
Help Them Stay Connected with Family and Friends
The holiday can be a hard time for them if they are not able to see family members or old friends in person. This is why it is important for them to be kept connected, even if it is through video calls or phone chats. You can set up a zoom or skype call with family to help them send a thoughtful holiday message to help them feel included and connected, even from a distance. And whenever possible, encourage friends and family visits, this can be a great way to combat loneliness. And if travel is not possible, even small gestures can do wonders for them to feel better.
Involve Them in Holiday Traditions
It won’t be surprising to realize that it is the seniors who are going to be the most interested in the holiday and its traditions. So even if they are in home care, participation in many of the holiday traditions should not be impossible for them. There must be plenty of ways for them to be included in the traditions, whether it is to help in baking cookies, wrapping presents, etc. At the very least, they can collaborate in small ways according to their current abilities. Taking part in holiday meal prep can be very uplifting for those who used to be active in the kitchen when they were younger. Asking for their favorite recipes or getting their input on the menu will enable them to feel values and part of the planning process.
Accommodate Their Health Needs
It is easy to forget about the practical needs of theirs due to the excitement of the holidays. Seniors, especially if they are in home care, have specific health concerns that should always be considered as the most important. This is why you must make sure that the holiday planning takes their dietary needs, mobility issues, and medication schedules into account. For example, you can make dishes that are easy for them to eat and align in accordance with their dietary restrictions, if you are hosting a holiday dinner. This will be a great way for them to not feel left out and enjoy the dinner without any hurdles. And their medications should also be kept in mind, so their regular routine does not get disturbed, even when things get busy.
It is All About Creating Joy
You can easily get caught up in trying to make the holiday festival perfect, but your focus should be on joy as well, let your seniors get the most joy out of it, create heartwarming memories, and feel connected. This might mean things like, scaling down on large gatherings, and instead spending more time with a smaller and closer group of loved ones together. It could also mean that simple activities that make them happy, should be opted for. Seniors often appreciate the small and quiet moments more which can give them time to reflect and relax. The best thing you can do for them is to be present and attentive during these times, to make all the difference.
Worry less Holiday with 1st Care Community
The holidays are an important time to connect and create special memories with your loved ones. We, at 1st Care Community, understand it better than anyone, and we are very passionate about providing the necessary support to your loved ones during the holiday season, to make sure their health, happiness, and well-being does not get compromised. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you and your loved one to live better and healthier.
