VISITING ANGELS NORTH FORT MYERS, FL 239-226-1620
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Gearing Up for the Holidays With Your Senior Loved One

Gearing Up for the Holidays With Your Senior Loved One

As our loved ones age, we start to realize there are probably precious few holidays we still have together. If they are declining physically or mentally, those treasured moments can be even more precious. As you gear up for the holidays this year, keep your senior loved ones in mind. Make a plan, find out what they want the holidays to look like this year, and try to soak in as much as you can and enjoy your time together.

Include Them

No matter what your plan for the holidays is this year, make sure you include your senior loved ones. Whether they can leave the house for holiday festivities or you need to bring the celebrations to them, make them a part of it. Often at this time of the year, seniors can start to feel lonely or depressed. They realize things are changing that they can’t do what they used to, and often they are missing loved ones who’ve passed on. Make an effort to be there for them, and have them be with you. Ask them what they’d like to do this year and what they don’t mind missing. Include them in your preparations - both by seeking their input and planning for events that involve them.

Realize Things Might Be Different

You might have a picture of the perfect holiday in your head. Realize you might need to make modifications to that plan this year. Maybe you’ll have to take on more of the cooking or baking responsibilities this year. Maybe Grandma can’t handle having all of the grandkids over to bake cookies at once on her own and will need you to be there to supervise as well. If your entire family has always gone to see the Nutcracker in Fort Myers every year, but your senior loved one can’t make it this year, you might need to bring the show to them. Watch it on television together, or listen to the score as you’re baking together. Maybe your mom always had the most perfectly-wrapped Christmas gifts, but she can no longer curl the ribbon or tuck in the edges of the paper because her hands don’t work like they used to. You might have to take on some of the wrapping responsibilities for her or make it easier by purchasing bags instead for the gifts this year. Be flexible. Realize things might be changing, but that you still can have fun and enjoy the holidays together. 

Take Pictures

No matter what it is you’re doing together this holiday season, put on your list to take lots of photos. Take pictures of the kids with grandma. Take some shots of dad in his festive holiday sweater. Make sure you get yourself in the pictures too. You’ll be thankful later that you have them. Then after the holidays are over, you can print them out and give them to your senior loved one. The copies will be fun for them to have around so they can relive the memories of the season.

Have Them Tell Stories

Set aside some time this holiday season to have your senior loved one tell stories of their childhood holidays. Ask them about their favorite Thanksgiving memories and what their traditional menu was. Find out what their most precious childhood Christmas gifts were and if they still have any of them. Listen to them tell stories of when you were young and how you celebrated the holidays.

Do Some of Their Favorite Things

While maybe your senior loved one can’t do everything they once did around the holidays, do some of their favorites together. Find out what they would really enjoy doing. Do they want to sip on a gingerbread latte while watching Hallmark movies? Or do they want to get out and watch this year’s holiday Cape Coral boat parade? See what is most exciting or important to them and plan ahead.

We Can Help

If you are looking for someone to help your senior loved one this holiday season and every season, our caregivers at Visiting Angels can help. We serve seniors in Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the surrounding areas. We provide a variety of home care services, including companion care, respite care, fall prevention services, and a safe and steady program.

We will come to your home for a free visit to find out what needs you have and develop a care plan tailored to your needs. Call us at (239) 226-1620 for more information, or find us online. If you are interested in caring for senior clients in the community, visit us online to find out more about a career in home care.

Serving Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the Surrounding Area

Visiting Angels NORTH FORT MYERS, FL
13180 N Cleveland Ave #112
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
Phone: 239-226-1620
(Drop Off Site) A Florida employee based Home Health Agency, FL Lic # 299994657

Serving Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the Surrounding Area

Visiting Angels NORTH FORT MYERS, FL
13180 N Cleveland Ave #112
North Fort Myers, FL 33903
Phone: 239-226-1620
(Drop Off Site) A Florida employee based Home Health Agency, FL Lic # 299994657