Managing the Holiday Blues
In the United States, more than 12 million Americans over age 65 live alone and many in isolation, due to impaired mobility, loss of friends and even depression. The holidays, once a time of making great memories and participating in festive occasions, can become an emotional burden for seniors who have lost loved ones and friends.
This can also be a difficult time of year as a care provider because it can be hard to know how to help. “The best thing family and caregivers can do is engage their elderly loved one in activities that reinforce the happy part of the holiday”, says Susan Nimnuan, Vice President of BrightStar Care of Naples/Ft. Myers.
Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
• Acknowledge their feelings, and encourage them to do the same. Share how you too can feel sad or melancholy of years past – albeit for different reasons. This helps affirm for your loved one that feelings of sadness and even grief are normal and appropriate for the time of year. Getting them to express their feelings aloud can often be therapeutic and give your elder a sense of relief.
• Encourage story telling. A great way to illicit feelings of happiness and overcome melancholy is to tell the stories of holidays’ past. Sharing those memories can often conquer sadness because your loved one is recalling some of the happiest times of their life.
• Take time to pamper your elder. Take a day and do something out of the ordinary to escape the constant reminders of the upcoming holidays. A day spa, a short walk outdoors in nature or even seeing a movie can offer reprieve and redirect thoughts of sadness to something engaging and fun.
• Do something for someone else. Being selfless through acts of kindness has a positive physical effect. It releases ‘feel good’ hormones like oxytocin. Accompany your loved one on a day of volunteering in the local community. If mobility is a concern, focus on simpler ways to extend kindness to others: buy a cup of coffee for the person next in line or hold the door open for someone. Acts of kindness can be big or small but have the same emotion-boosting rewards.
• Give them an important role. Make your elderly loved one integral to the day’s festivities rather than just a
guest. If there are small children, ask your senior to play Santa or hand out the gifts under the tree. Involve them in the cooking and baking. Keeping them actively engaged can redirect feelings and make them feel needed.
In the United States, more than 12 million Americans over age 65 live alone and many in isolation, due to impaired mobility, loss of friends and even depression. The holidays, once a time of making great memories and participating in festive occasions, can become an emotional burden for seniors who have lost loved ones and friends.
This can also be a difficult time of year as a care provider because it can be hard to know how to help. “The best thing family and caregivers can do is engage their elderly loved one in activities that reinforce the happy part of the holiday”, says Susan Nimnuan, Vice President of BrightStar Care of Naples/Ft. Myers.
Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
• Acknowledge their feelings, and encourage them to do the same. Share how you too can feel sad or melancholy of years past – albeit for different reasons. This helps affirm for your loved one that feelings of sadness and even grief are normal and appropriate for the time of year. Getting them to express their feelings aloud can often be therapeutic and give your elder a sense of relief.
• Encourage story telling. A great way to illicit feelings of happiness and overcome melancholy is to tell the stories of holidays’ past. Sharing those memories can often conquer sadness because your loved one is recalling some of the happiest times of their life.
• Take time to pamper your elder. Take a day and do something out of the ordinary to escape the constant reminders of the upcoming holidays. A day spa, a short walk outdoors in nature or even seeing a movie can offer reprieve and redirect thoughts of sadness to something engaging and fun.
• Do something for someone else. Being selfless through acts of kindness has a positive physical effect. It releases ‘feel good’ hormones like oxytocin. Accompany your loved one on a day of volunteering in the local community. If mobility is a concern, focus on simpler ways to extend kindness to others: buy a cup of coffee for the person next in line or hold the door open for someone. Acts of kindness can be big or small but have the same emotion-boosting rewards.
• Give them an important role. Make your elderly loved one integral to the day’s festivities rather than just a
guest. If there are small children, ask your senior to play Santa or hand out the gifts under the tree. Involve them in the cooking and baking. Keeping them actively engaged can redirect feelings and make them feel needed.