The Truth About Senior Isolation
Being alone for the holidays can be tough for anyone regardless of age. For seniors living by themselves, this can be a particular difficult time as they recall the holidays of earlier years, surrounded by loved ones. Many seniors who live alone slip into depression at this time of the year. Being in the company of others in an assisted living facility does offer some companionship, but it is still a small consolation.
Here are a few things you can do to help your loved one beat the holiday blues during those times when you cannot go to visit them personally.
Ways To Help Reduce Holiday Blues
Remind them continuously about how much all of you are thinking of them and that they continue to be an important part of your family and are specially missed during any family celebration, including the holiday festivities. Don’t focus on the sadness of not being able to celebrate together. Instead, focus on the happy and funny memories of the times your loved one was with you during earlier holidays.
Send them a greeting card with thoughtful wordings. A phone call is great and a video chat is even better, but nothing compares to the joy of receiving a Christmas card in the mail. Phone calls and video chats get over all too soon. With a Christmas card, they can relive the joy again and again, every time they read the wordings. Make sure it is signed individually by each family member.
Make the Christmas card even more special by adding photographs of all the family members including pets if you have any.
If your loved one is in an assisted living community, ask the activities director about their plans for the holidays. Also ask them if you could arrange for some special activity during this season. It could be something like getting the local choir to sing carols at the facility or maybe some form of pet therapy.
Cook your loved one’s favorite dishes and deliver it gift-wrapped for them to enjoy throughout the holidays or share with neighbors. Christmas cookies, cakes, and other long-life treats are sure to be appreciated, and because they have long shelf lives, they can be relished throughout the season. Make sure to send enough for your loved one to share with the whole community if they live in an assisted living facility.
Order a special meal to be delivered for them to enjoy on Christmas day. Take care to choose all of their favorite dishes.
Setting up a video chat with your loved one during the Christmas lunch or dinner is a fantastic way to dine together safely despite the distance separating you.
One thing that is sure to life your loved one’s spirits during this time is decorating their home or their room in the assisted living facility. If you cannot visit personally because of the risks involved, you could get on video while decorating your home so they feel included in this beautiful annual tradition.
Last but not least, listen to your senior loved one closely to really hear what they are saying. They may be upset at the loss of a friend or relative or they may be in pain or facing some other challenge. Offer words of comfort and reassurance and be empathetic to their concerns.
