Beating the California “Winter” Blues
The winter months, even in California, can be quite lonely, especially for seniors living alone. The winter doldrums, or the winter blues, can set in then. It can be especially hard on a senior loved one who is physically or mentally declining. To help combat the winter doldrums this year, and tide your senior loved ones over until spring reappears, here are a few ideas to try to boost their spirits.
Make a Chain of Contacts
To help keep our senior loved ones from getting lonely or sad at this time of the year, forming a chain of people who care about them can help. You can enlist family members or friends to visit, call or write to your senior. Maybe you’ll want to go so far as to set up a schedule so that your senior loved one has a different person visiting or calling them each week. While beloved relatives may have returned home after the holidays, they still can keep in touch via email, phone or even Facetime. Reach out to each of the grandkids, and have them take turns texting or calling grandma once a week.
Make Some Plans
Much of the sadness during the winter comes from the post-holiday blues. There are so many fun things we anticipate each year around Christmas and New Years, that when they are over, it can be a let down. Plan some things to do in the slower winter months with your senior loved one. Even if you just get some dates on the calendar, it can give them and you something to look forward to. Head to the Canyon Theater Guild to see one of their upcoming live theater productions. PIck the one your senior wants to see and put it on the calendar. Or make a plan to try different fun drinks at coffee shops around town, including Trophy Coffee. You can even put on the calendar days to pick out and plant spring flowers. Find something your senior would be excited about doing this year, and plan for it together with them.
Stay Active
One of the best ways to beat the winter doldrums is to do something active. It usually makes people feel better afterwards and raises their spirits. You can simply walk around town, or go for a bike ride. Or you can plan an adventure. Maybe you even want to take a drive to Vasquez Rocks to see the natural beauty and hike around a bit. Tie the trip into something fun to do with your senior. Watch some of the movies, such as “Star Trek”, or shows, including an episode of “Friends”, that have been shot there first, and then head to see the spot in real life.
Eat Well
The slower winter months sure do seem like a great time for comfort food. In moderation it can be great. But overall, help your senior plan a healthy menu. Come up with some new recipes to try to make together. Head out to local farmers markets and pick up some fresh produce. Wash it for your senior and put it in convenient containers so they have healthy snacks that are easily accessible.
Get Bright and Cheery
Dark and cloudy days don’t help with the doldrums. Do what you can to brighten up your senior’s home. Christmas is over, but it’s never too early to start decorating for Valentine’s day, spring or Easter. Get some bright colors and put accent pieces around the home. Find some fresh tulips to put in a vase for your senior as a sign of spring to come. Buy them a brightly-colored piece of clothing to wear around, or a fun, bright hat to wear on walks outside, which also can cheer them up.
We Can Help
If you are looking for help with your senior loved one this winter, or any season, our professionals at Visiting Angels Santa Clarita are here for you. We provide a variety of home care services, including fall prevention services, companion care, a safe and steady program, and in-home care for help with daily life activities. Whatever needs your senior loved one has, our trained professionals can help.
Our expert team of caregivers serves clients in Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley. To learn more about our services, call us at 661-263-2273, or fill out an online form here.