Coping With the Holidays
From November through the beginning of January, there are many holidays. These include Veteran’s Day, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, New Year’s Eve and Day, and more. So much to celebrate!!
But as a senior in an assisted living facility or as the family of that mature adult, these may be difficult days to navigate. They come filled with mixed emotions, sometimes with feelings of loss, often with upsetting family dynamics. How can you make it through? Below are some tips and ideas to help.
Tips for Seniors
You may be separated from your family, not living in the home you are used to, and suffering from health or mobility issues. Still, planning for the holiday season can bring joy and a sense of happy anticipation. Here are some ideas:
Plan ahead
If you want to send out holiday cards, decorate your room, or purchase presents, don’t wait until the last minute. Doing things ahead of time can lower your stress. If you have a caregiver or are in assisted living, you can ask for help taking care of these things. Also, remember that many things can be bought or taken care of online. If you are not comfortable with computers, again, ask for help. Take breaks when doing holiday tasks to pace yourself. Getting these things done early will have you ready for the fun.
Be flexible
Holidays are a time full of traditions, but some traditions need to be left behind and new ones begun. Check with friends and family or your facility to see how to keep up the traditions that are important to you.
Change how you give gifts
It is not important to spend a lot of money on gift-giving. Time spent together can be as good as an expensive gift. No one needs to be burdened financially because of excessive gift-giving.
Don’t forget to laugh
Holidays can be fun, even in a different setting. Invite family or friends to play games with you, put together a holiday puzzle, or watch a movie that makes you happy. Crafts are a fun way to enhance your decorations and craft classes may be held at your assisted living facility.
Ask for what you need
You must communicate. If you want family or friends to come by, don’t wait for them to show up; ask them to come. If you need help getting presents or stamps for holiday cards, ask.
Make healthy choices
No one feels like celebrating if they don’t feel well, so keep yourself in good shape.
- Drink lots of fluids, especially water.
- Make healthy food choices. During holidays, people tend to overeat, which does not make anyone feel well. Take small portions, and watch for too many rich foods or desserts. Be sure to follow your dietary restrictions as closely as possible.
- Drink alcohol in moderation. Many holiday parties may include alcohol. Some medications do not mix well with alcohol, and overindulging can make you feel awful.
- Rest. Getting a good night’s sleep plus taking daytime naps can help with the stress of holidays. No matter your age, the holidays can require a lot of energy.
- Remember to exercise. Colder weather and busyness can get us off track on walking or doing simple things to keep flexible. Exercise will help keep you healthy so you can enjoy the holidays to the full.
- Stay involved. Be sure to take advantage of opportunities to get together with others and celebrate, take classes, or go to special programs if able. You need social interactions to keep healthy as well.
Tips for Families
You may have questions about navigating the holidays if you are a senior’s caregiver in your home or an assisted living facility. This may be the first holiday season in which you have experienced changes in the health or home of a senior family member or friend. There are things to do to make this season joyful for all of you.
- Simplify. Often, we get way too involved in making the holidays perfect and end up stressed out. Give yourself, your family and your senior loved one a break. Get together and decide which decorations, traditions, meals, and events are most important. Do what you love, and don’t feel guilty about saying no to some things. Remember, getting older can be lonely. Try to be there for them.
- Make menus work for you. A huge meal is a lot for one person to attempt. Involve family members and your senior in meal tasks. Learn their “secret, family recipes” and include them in your meals. Make sure to think about dietary restrictions in your meal planning.
- Change things up. Senior adults often feel better and are at their best earlier in the day, so try to plan activities, big meals, and events around them.
- Be their helper. Seniors may struggle with wrapping presents, sending cards, or shopping for gifts. Family members or friends can help them with these tasks.
- Reach out across the miles. Use technology if you have a loved one who is not nearby and travel is impossible. Facetime, Skype, Zoom, and other phone and computer apps can bring you together for the holidays. Make a recording of celebrations they can watch and rewatch. Ask if their facility, local church, or organization could come by and sing carols. It may take a phone call to set up.
- Make new memories. If your loved one can travel in a car, there are many things you could do. Go to a holiday light show, drive around and see house decorations, or find a holiday boat parade to view together. Many things around the holidays are handicap accessible. Search your local area for events that you can share.
If you are a senior, a family member, or a caregiver and facing the holidays this year feels difficult, take heart. There are ways to make it a good time for everyone!
