Making a Difference to Seniors over the Holidays

Posted: 12/19/2013 12:00 AM by Interim HealthCare

Many seniors have trouble enjoying the holidays because they can be stressful, depressing, and lonely. Our elders sometimes struggle with physical and mental aliments that can make participating challenging. Sometimes taking that extra moment to reach out and include our senior loved ones, or even those in our community that might not have anyone, can make a huge difference. Here are a few ways that you can help…

Spread some holiday cheer to seniors who live alone and don’t have family. Helping seniors to contribute is also a great way to boost their spirits, perhaps you can help them to donate to charities or a food bank. An example would be delivering toys to Toys for Tots for them or delivering canned goods to a Food Pantry on their behalf.

Often, seniors just want someone to listen and help them to feel important. Reflecting on memories can be beneficial to their mental health and emotional well being. The holidays are a great time for this, and you just may learn something that you never knew.

When seniors come to visit, take a few moments to think about how you can make life easier for them while they are in your home. Maybe you can move a chair closer to the rest room or have some activities planned, such as looking at old pictures. You can also help them to keep track of their medications while they are with you.

Building new memories and helping seniors to remain an important, contributing member of your family, is a great way to make a difference for someone you love.