The sights, sounds, and traditions of the holiday season can bring great joy for many seniors and the family caregivers who love them. However, the hustle and bustle of activity, changes in routine, and especially the emotional charge of family memories and the longing to be with a loved one who is absent can sometimes increase stress, fatigue, or isolation.
At Geras Home Care, we know that it’s more important than ever for seniors (and family caregivers) to enjoy a safe, happy, and fulfilling holiday season no matter what their age or health challenges may be. Follow these four tips to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep the seniors in your life healthy and happy this December.
1. Keep their routine as consistent as possible
Regularity and routine are important for all of us, but they are critical for older adults, especially those with chronic conditions or cognitive changes.
Holiday schedules often include late nights, non-stop visitors, and late or early meals. This all adds up to a lot of fun, but be sure to make a special effort to keep the senior’s main routine intact:
- Medication: Administer any prescriptions at the same time they would normally be given. Set alarms and have a written checklist to avoid errors on busy days.
- Sleep: Have a consistent bedtime and wake up time each day if possible. Chronic sleep deprivation (even a few nights) can affect mood and energy levels.
- Meal Times: Try to keep mealtimes (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as consistent as possible, even if what and when they eat might change (snacking more, for example). This will help with digestion and can help regulate blood sugar.
- Key takeaway: A regular routine is the best foundation for surviving the holiday stress and enjoying good health.
2. Be sure to take their need for quiet comfort into consideration
Big, loud, family gatherings can be exhausting, even (or perhaps especially) for well-liked family members! Don’t expect the senior you care for to match the energy level of the rest of your family (and don’t take it personally if they can’t).
Be proactive about their environment:
- Make a Quiet Place for Them to Retreat to: Set up a quiet room (spare bedroom, den) and let everyone know it is a designated “safe zone” with comfy furniture, low lighting, and easy access. This is the place they can rest or nap and recharge whenever they want.
- Don’t Overschedule them (or You!) on Family Events: A single, shorter visit or celebration is almost always better than one that is too long. If they are joining you for an event, make sure they know they can leave whenever they’d like and that you’ll bring them home safely (even if it’s early).
- Pay Attention for Signs of Fatigue/Overstimulation: They may need a quiet space when they show non-verbal signs of stress (fidgeting, agitation, avoiding interaction) or admit to feeling tired or overwhelmed.
3. Involve them (don’t just do for them)
Having a sense of purpose and inclusion is one of the most powerful antidotes to isolation and withdrawal during the holidays (or any time of year).
Senior isolation during the holidays can be combated by having them help in small but important ways instead of just sitting back and having you do everything for them.
Ideas for Meaningful Involvement:
- Ask them to share their favorite holiday memories/traditions from their past (Record their stories!)
- Simple (seated) Tasks: Addressing holiday cards, sorting decorations, or wrapping easy gifts can provide a sense of involvement.
- Cooking/Chef’s Kisses: If they love to cook, giving them a small, safe job in the kitchen (stirring batter, mixing salad) will make them feel like a superhero!
4. (Plan to) Enlist professional help this December
The holidays can often require family caregivers to take on even more than usual—traveling for family visits, hosting holiday meals, running holiday shopping and errands, managing their own jobs and life schedules. This can make professional home care a real necessity this December.
If you are a family caregiver, please know that it is NOT a sign of defeat or “failure” if you need Respite Care services so you can plan a family vacation and have the peace of mind knowing your parent is safe and being cared for by a trusted professional.
In fact, making sure you have professional home care in place to supplement or even replace your caregiving time (however brief or temporary) is an act of not just great self-care for you but wise planning for the whole family.
Ways Geras Home Care can help this December:
- Holiday Respite Care: Our caregivers are available to come to your home and provide scheduled care while you travel or host holiday events without the stress of having to worry about your parent’s safety and well-being.
- Holiday Companionship: We provide the additional emotional support, interaction, and “hands-on” engagement you can’t when you have other family and personal obligations and will prevent your loved one’s loneliness and help maintain their physical and mental health during periods of intense family activity or if you must be away.
- Holiday Assistance: The family needs to be sure that any changes in their loved one’s normal routine (medications, bathing, meals, etc.) are being maintained when other routines have fallen apart due to the “holiday chaos.”
The ultimate goal of the holiday season for all of us should be to relax and enjoy the season as much as possible by focusing on comfort, togetherness, and making memories.
These four simple tips and any advice your loved one’s medical team can offer can help to make this December a safe, happy, and healthy month for every senior member of your family.
Need an extra layer of professional support this holiday season? Contact Geras Home Care today to discuss Respite Care or Companionship service plans that fit your family’s schedule and needs.
Schedule a free consultation. 📞 (610) 355-2200