Dec
2
Written by:
AALHA
12/2/2011
The holiday season can be rough for those living in assisted living situations. During the holidays, family members and friends are busy, and some live far away from their elderly loved ones. The holidays can also serve as a reminder of all of the loved ones that the elderly have lost, or how they can no longer participate in family holiday events. This leaves some residents feeling lonely, sad, and (medically worse) depressed.
About 6 percent (over 2 million) of senior citizens suffer from depression of some kind, and the holiday season is known to increase the rate of depression among this age group. The disorder is known to increase the elder person's risk of death and cardiac diseases, and decrease their ability to recover from illnesses and surgeries. Given the severity of depression on the individual's health, it is important that caregivers do everything in their power to encourage positive mental well-being in their residents. Here are some tips to help your residents get into the holiday spirit and out of their holiday funk.
Take your residents to local theatre or music productions.
Getting out of their normal environment and into a social one filled with people, music, and/or art can remind the elderly of the good things in life. Local school and religious productions are great places for residents to get into the holiday spirit.
Decorate your home festively.
Decorate your home and residents’ rooms with holiday decorations and encourage residents to participate in any way that they are able. Invite local community groups to make home-made decorations as presents to your home. Another idea is to set up an event for community groups to come to your home and have the elderly participate in the creation of the decorations.
Invite community groups for visits or other social contact.
Inviting community groups for visits to your home or to send holiday letters to your residents will remind residents that they are seen and are important members of society.
Throw a holiday party.
It doesn’t need to be anything extravagant. Invite residents’ family members to participate. It will lift all of your residents’ spirits.
Help your residents participate in the holiday season.
Just because your residents cannot go out shopping for their loved ones or participate in their loved ones’ holiday activities in the traditional sense doesn’t mean they cannot engage in these activities at all. Set up activities for your residents so they can participate. Here are some ideas:
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Arts and crafts are a great way for residents to make gifts for their loved ones over the holidays; some ideas are painting pottery or ornaments, or creating holiday cards.
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Use video services, like Skype, so that residents can see and talk to their loved ones on holidays.
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If possible, help your residents pick out presents for their loved ones online.
Amber Paley is a guest post and article writer bringing to us information on how caregivers can cheer up their residents during the holiday season. Amber spends much of her professional life writing about http://www.nursinghomeabuse.net/. Amber can be contacted at amber@nursinghomeabuse.net.