The holidays are just around the corner and it’s the season to enjoy and recreate some beautiful memories with families and friends. Unfortunately, the Holiday Season isn’t as joyful for many seniors. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, about 25% of people over the age of 65 feel lonely on a regular basis. These numbers significantly increase around the holiday season.
There are a number of reasons why seniors feel depressed during the holiday season. Some reasons include the inability to be with loved ones, social demands, financial strain, decreased exposure to the outside, and reminders of grief.
The festive season should be a happy moment for everyone, especially for the wonderful parents who have sacrificed a lot for our happiness. It is important that we look for ways to keep depression at bay because the holiday blues can affect our loved one’s health adversely. The best way to help seniors handle the holiday blues is by monitoring them and looking out for tips that can promote confidence and happiness.
Common Signs to Watch for Senior Depression
There are a few symptoms we can watch for that will show us that our loved ones are suffering from holiday blues. Make sure to look for the signs mentioned below and aim to help your loved ones from holiday depression.
- Loneliness
- Loss of interest
- Change in appetite
- Feeling exhausted
- Difficulty in sleeping or Excessive sleeping
- Trouble in concentrating
- Crying Frequently, etc.
6 Ways to Help Loved Ones Overcoming Depression During Holidays
1. Encourage Exercising:
Exercise has many benefits for seniors. Help your loved ones in participating in physical activities organized by communities. It helps them to improve strong social bonds, enhance mood, increase energy levels, and reduce stress. It is one of the best ways to keep our seniors happier and healthier.
2. Help Them to Learn New Things:
One of the major reasons for depression among seniors is their sedentary lifestyle. Learning new things or taking up a hobby helps them to stay engaged and combat anxiety and negative thinking.
3. Plan Picnics and Reunions:
Surprise your elderly loved ones by planning for picnics and family gatherings. Though the home is the best place to feel relaxed and comfortable, new place visits can make a difference in their overall health.
4. Become a Good Listener:
Make some time to listen and understand them. This is a simple tip but can greatly impact your loved one’s mood and health. By sitting beside and listening to them, you help them to feel that they are not alone and there is someone listening to them.
5. Show Albums and Videos:
A great way to support the elderly in overcoming holiday depression is by helping them connect with their memories. They have seen a number of successful and happy holiday seasons already. Plan to sit next to them, listen to the stories they tell, go through photo albums, and include some videos that can make them happy.
6. Hire a Caregiver:
There may be situations when you have no other option than to leave your loved one alone at home. In such challenging situations, always ensure to provide a caregiver’s help. This helps them to receive a caring hand for their healthy and happy living.
Each year around this season, Assured Home Nursing sees an increased need for caregiving services for elderly loved ones. The holiday season is not the same for everyone. While family members have to plan and organize events, many of the seniors spend their time alone.
Our caregivers aim to provide the best possible support they need to overcome their holiday blues. We help them to understand that this holiday season is as joyful as the previous years, and therefore help them in celebrating each moment of the holiday season with happiness.
Our motive is to help the elderly meet the needs they deserve with our home nursing services. From companion care to personal care, we are proudly serving your loved ones in the comfort of their own home.
Our providers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us for a free consultation at (248) 593-8134.
