Simplifying the Holidays for Seniors

Another holiday season is upon us, and while it’s the most wonderful time of year, the holidays can present challenges for seniors with chronic health conditions. Stores are filled to the brim with merchandise and patrons, making it difficult for seniors to safely navigate the aisles. There are holiday cards to write and send, decorations to put out, and holiday planning to finalize. For seniors with long-distant family, there’s the additional stress of hosting. While many seniors look forward to gathering with their loved ones, the holiday season can leave them feeling exhausted and burnt out. The added stress of the holiday season can exasperate their chronic health conditions and put them at risk for further medical complications. Seniors with dementia can experience angst as their routines are shuffled around. The holidays should be a time of peace and joy. This season give the gift of a simple holiday to your aging loved one. Here are a few tips to simplify the holiday season for seniors.

Decorate with Ease

Many seniors feel overwhelmed when it comes to decorating for the holiday season. It takes a lot of effort and time to put everything up for such a short amount of time. This year keep the decorating simple. Display your favorite pieces and keep everything else boxed up. Instead of putting up a full-sized tree, try decorating a small table-top tree. Hang a wreath on your door and call the outside finished. Consider gifting your favorite ornaments or the like to your adult children and grandchildren so that they can enjoy them in their own homes.

Dress Down

Another unnecessary stressor to the holiday season is hosting a fancy holiday dinner. Keep it simple this year by dressing down your holiday gathering. Invite families to arrive in their festive holiday pajamas or their best ugly holiday sweater. Cater the meal instead of spending too much time in the kitchen. Use paper products to make clean up an ease. Hire a cleaning company to prepare for out-of-town guests or ask nearby family to host them. Create an atmosphere where memories will be made instead of forcing the perfect photo op.

Utilize Technology

Technology is a great way to keep the holidays simple for seniors. Some seniors may feel overwhelmed with large crowds, so they decline the extended family get-together. Chronic health conditions can also limit their availability around the holidays. FaceTime and the like can allow them to be a part of the celebration, even if they’re not physically able to attend. Video call your aging parents so they can watch their grandkids open their presents from across the country. Record your child’s holiday performance so that your aging loved one can enjoy the show without having to navigate a crowded gymnasium.

Reconsider Gifts

Simplify gift giving for your aging loved one by suggesting that adults draw names or that everyone focuses gifts for the kids. Give your loved one specific gift suggestions for each person or encourage them to give a monetary gift or gift card. Help them shop online to avoid the crowds in the stores. If they like to shop, take them shopping in the morning on a weekday, when the stores are less crowded. Start at a big box store, where you’re likely to find something for everyone on your list, to avoid overexerting your loved one.

Are you searching for ways to make life simpler and more relaxed for your aging loved one beyond the holiday season? Look no further than Visiting Angels Southlake. Our exceptional senior home care services make the perfect holiday gift for any senior who needs a little help around their home. We help many seniors with the tasks of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, running errands, and more. Beyond care, our compassionate caregivers will form a companionship with your aging loved one. To learn more about our senior home care services, please contact us today.