BE AWARE OF SENIORS EMOTIONAL HEALTH AROUND THE HOLIDAYS

According to National Institute of Mental Health, the focus on family, friends and togetherness during the holidays brings melancholy feelings for the elderly. The holiday season reminds them of just how lonely they are. Family and friends fall ill and pass away; mobility is reduced resulting in feelings of lost independence; chronic pain and illness decreases energy and increases isolation.

So how do we address loneliness in our senior loved ones and help prevent it around the holidays? Loneliness isn’t “one size fits all.”

Look for signs like over-sleeping, loss of interest in normal activities or restlessness. Start a conversation with a senior loved one about what’s going on and ask what they are feeling. Make sure they know that they’re being heard and their feelings are respected. Having a conversation ahead of time can make family holiday gatherings a bit easier by giving them the comfort of knowing you recognize their loss and are available to offer support and love. Keep in mind, if wounds are fresh, it might still be difficult to eat, drink and be merry with friends and family. Remember, an empathetic conversation can help them process what is bothering them, whether they are mourning a loss or coming to terms with new challenges in their life. It may also reveal why they are feeling down and help you devise other ways to lift their spirits!

Here are some tips to help combat loneliness and protect the mental health of an older loved one this holiday and into the New Year:

• 1. Communicate, communicate, communicate! Remember some older adults go days without speaking to anyone at all. Of course, nothing beats an in-person visit, but a phone call can go a long way. Encourage other family members to pick up the phone too. If your loved is tech savvy, lucky you, you can text or facetime and include the grandkids. If possible, ask family members and friends to send a simple card, photograph or drawing to help keep your loved one’s mailbox full at holiday time. Maybe even buy, and then help them write and send their own holiday greeting cards.
• 2. Schedule social activities. Who doesn’t like looking at festive holiday decorations? Community parks, museums, churches, the Mall, even pop-up holiday destinations are great places to take your loved one for a distraction. Christmas concerts, plays, or Chanukah menorah lightings can be fun too, and most are designed to be "disabled friendly" for walkers and wheelchairs as they are geared towards family members of all ages.
• 3. Have fun with hobbies at the holidays. Whether making Thanksgiving placemats or pies, baking holiday cookies, making Chanukah or Christmas ornaments, remember it is the process and companionship that is important. They may feel useless or burdensome if they cannot contribute to or fully participate in the festivities like they used to. Be patient, nothing has to look “perfect,” your time is the best holiday gift of all.
• 4. Identify opportunities to prevent loneliness not just at the holidays, but throughout the year. For those times between visits and call, when loneliness strikes, consider respite care or companionship services. A few hours with a trained caregiver can mean a lot: conversation, socialization, a shared meal, a trip in the car to go shopping or to the beauty salon, etc.

The most important thing you can do is to make them feel loved and included this season, and just simply spend time with them. Look at family photos, watch holiday movies, listen to seasonal music, or bake and do crafts together. If after all your efforts, you still find that your loved one is withdrawn and in low spirits, check with their doctor for signs of depression.

CONTACT US: Knowing how to juggle seniors’ needs and their emotions during the busy holidays can be tough along with work and family obligations. Do what you can to help your Senior loved one feel involved and get into the holiday spirit without stressing yourself beyond your limits. Remember your best efforts are appreciated, and that help from Visiting Angels is just a phone call away at 561-328-7611.

Till Next Time!

Irv Seldin, JD, President and Owner, Visiting Angels of the Palm Beaches

This article is not intended as medical, legal, or financial advice.