How to Brighten the 2020 Holidays for Seniors
The 2020 Holiday season is here and it is in full swing. As with the vast majority of other holidays this year we know that many celebrations – and possibly some long-standing traditions – will look different. But that doesn’t mean all festivities and celebrations have to stop.
At Thrive USA Homecare, we care deeply about helping seniors feel included in the festivities and to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest. If you are a family caregiver, here are some things you can do to help brighten the holidays for seniors this year.
Bring Back Holiday Traditions
Familiarity during the holidays brings calm, warmth, and joy, particularly at a time when many elderly people feel alone. Enable your family member to chat about their most cherished holiday rituals and consider doing a few this year. Some of our favorites include binging on holiday movies, spending time baking and cooking in the kitchen, wreath & ornament making, and taking a holiday light tour!
Connect with Family & Friends
During this pandemic, we’ve seen a number of creative ways people have sought to keep connected. It is particularly important during this time of year to ensure your elderly parent feel like they are part of holiday festivities and family fun, even though you cannot spend time with each other in person.
With several ways to connect – from Zoom to FaceTime to Skype – it’s easier (and safer!) than ever to keep in contact with everyone you love. Set up a group social video chats, a virtual holiday party, or an individual visit. A lot of seniors still love getting mail. Round up relatives, families, and children and send them holiday cards, letters, and messages.
Social isolation and depression have played a much greater role over the past year, particularly among the elderly. Unfortunately, holidays will make it more difficult to control these emotions.
Stay Active
Older adults, even in isolation, need to remain active. There are many ways to promote activities at home during holidays, including:
- Light exercise or walking (Go checkout neighborhood Holiday decorations)
- Listening to a Holiday playlist
- Baking or Cooking Holiday Favorites
- Playing games, doing crafts, or working on puzzles
- Going through old family photo albums
- Holiday card making, gift-wrapping, or decorating
Get Into the Holiday Spirit!
Last but certainly not least, have fun and get in the holiday spirit!
🎅 Drive through your neighborhood to take in some of the holiday light displays and decorations.
🎄 Deck the halls with some of their beloved holiday decorations such as wreaths, garlands, and ornaments.
🎞️ Watch their favorite holiday movie.
🎤 Arrange for virtual caroling. Gather family and friends around the phone or computer to sing traditional holiday songs together.
🍪 Set aside time to bake holiday cookies, candy or other seasonal favorites together. You can even do this virtually if you are not able to visit in person.
🍽️ Eat a traditional holiday meal together. If this is not an option, consider delivering a home-cooked meal to your loved one and set up a video chat so that you can share it together.
The holidays should be fun and relaxing for everyone. With a little pre-planning and extra thought, holidays for seniors can be enjoyed as much as they are by everyone else, creating new memories that the whole family will treasure for a lifetime. And, if in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle you could use the assistance of a trained senior caregiver, Hired Hands Homecare is here to help! Give us a call at 301-882-4717 to learn more about how our Maryland senior care services can enhance the holidays for you and yours.