Celebrating the Holidays with Seniors During a Pandemic

Think about the most perfect holiday season you can possibly imagine. While that image may vary a bit for each of us, it typically includes lights, gifts, good food, and traditions handed down through the generations. Yet what most definitely rings true for all of us is the happiness in spending time with the people we love. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused us all to rethink how to safely enjoy the holidays with seniors during a pandemic. With a bit of ingenuity and creativity, however, it’s feasible to bridge the gap while making new memories with the seniors you love, even if you cannot be together with them in person this season. 

Our aging care professionals have collected several suggestions to help you celebrate the holidays with seniors during a pandemic:

• Adjust traditions. Think through the traditions that mean the most to you as well as your family, and how you can modify them to help keep everyone safe. For example, if everyone usually gets together annually to bake cookies, you can make use of Zoom or a similar platform to stay connected while baking from home. Identify a favorite recipe, have everybody log on at a designated time, and bake away while talking and listening to some holiday music.
• Don’t do away with decorating. Seniors who live alone often look forward to having loved ones, specifically grandchildren, visit to assist with holiday decorating. Without in-person visits, older adults might not be interested in decorating. Again, using a software app like Zoom, schedule a time for the whole family to get together online and share the stories behind the most loved decorations.
• Enjoy the terrific outdoors. If weather allows, plan brief visits with seniors outside, safely socially distant along with face coverings. String lights on bushes around the yard and decorate the front porch. In the case of snow, have the grandchildren build a snow fort or take part in a snowball fight while your older loved ones watch from the window. 
• Send smiles. Pictures, cards, letters, phone calls, small gifts, etc. will all mean a great deal to older adults who are missing time with loved ones. Coordinate with family members to take turns reaching out regularly in ways like this so that your older loved ones are overwhelmed with expressions of love.
• Share your feelings. There is nothing quite as wonderful as hearing from someone you love about the impact you have made on his or her life. Take this time to convey your gratitude towards the older adults you love for the difference they have made in your life, and be specific: “Grandpa, your patience with me when I was a teenager taught me what unconditional love looks like, and thanks to you, I’m a more patient person with my own kids.” 

A leader in home health services, Hired Hands Homecare’s caregivers are highly trained and experienced in improving total wellbeing for senior loved ones at home, and follow stringent safety protocols for everyone’s protection. Call us at (866) 940-4343 or use our online contact form to learn how our a caregiver in Petaluma or the surrounding areas can help make this holiday season the very best it can be for a senior loved one.