Holidays

Seniors and the holidays: learn why feelings of sadness are not uncommon.

In spite of its reputation for being viewed as the season of joy, the combination of seniors and the holidays can lead to profound feelings of unhappiness for many older adults. Yearning for holidays past, despair over the loss of family and friends, and worrisome changes to health can intensify throughout the holiday season, and it’s important to take the appropriate steps to help older loved ones avoid the downward spiral into senior holiday depression.

If an older adult you love is feeling blue this holiday season, begin by asking yourself these three questions

Could it possibly be normal nostalgia? Wistful feelings of nostalgia, thinking of pre-pandemic holiday get-togethers and celebrations, are normal for all of us. See if the older adult’s sadness is lifted immediately following … Read More »

The holidays are the perfect time to spend together with family—from the tiniest baby to the family’s matriarch, and each person in between! And this holiday season, whether you’re getting together for a special meal, a holiday party, or a trip to an exciting destination, it’s crucial to be prepared. Consider these holiday ideas for seniors from the Tri Valley home care professionals at Hired Hands Homecare to make any outing safer and more enjoyable for your family.

First, talk through the type of holiday outing that your senior loved one can both enjoy and feel comfortable participating in. Depending on his or her needs and ability level, you could decide on simply going for a leisurely family drive to enjoy viewing holiday light displays, get together in a family member’s home to decorate the house, enjoy a holiday performance at … Read More »

The change from long summer days to shorter, colder ones can sometimes affect how we feel. And while it’s true that many of us find the holiday season to be a joyful time, the drop in temperatures and reduced daylight can bring on darker feelings as well. These changes can even lead to a type of seasonal depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). During the late fall and winter months, be on the alert for any signs of depression that may be apparent in your senior loved ones. According to the Mayo Clinic, seasonal affective disorder occurs more often in women than it does in men, but men’s symptoms are often more severe.

Rather than dismissing these signs as simply the winter blues, note that SAD can cause older adults to sink into depression, experience a reduced energy level and increased … Read More »

It’s holiday time once again, which means it is also the perfect time for a “holiday reality check.” If you haven’t seen your elderly loved ones in a while, now is a good time to examine how your senior loved ones are doing and take the necessary steps in keeping seniors safe. With frenzied lifestyles or long distances separating families for a lot of the year, subtle (or not-so-subtle) indicators can very easily be overlooked. Keep a lookout for the following indications that additional care could be required, and bear in mind that looking for warning signs is not for the purposes of judgment or critique; it’s a check for wellness, well-being and safety.

Physical appearance: An unusually disheveled appearance of a senior loved one may be discovered during a holiday visit. Failing to stay up with daily hygiene routines such … Read More »

The holiday season presents a unique chance for you to visit with a senior loved one and spend some good quality time together – something that can be difficult during the rest of the year. Additionally, it is a very good time to be sure that your senior loved one’s holiday is safe in addition to being merry. Whether your senior loved one is enjoying the season in your household or his or her own, taking into consideration these holiday safety tips for seniors can assure that everyone’s holiday is joyful and bright.

Safe Decorating:

In your loved one’s home, or your own if he or she will be spending time there:

Use very simple decorations that don’t cause clutter. Always make certain that there is sufficient space to walk.
Keep extension cords out of the way of walking areas to prevent stumbling over … Read More »

While the holiday season is usually thought of as a joyous time, full of visiting loved ones and buying gifts, it’s important to remember that holidays for seniors can be anything but merry and bright. A combination of lost loved ones, memories of holidays past, health problems and more can impact seniors with feelings of loneliness and sadness.

At Hired Hands Homecare, we care deeply about helping seniors feel included in the festivities and to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest. These tips can help the whole family experience the joy and wonder of the holiday season together:

Create a cookbook with recipes from all family members. Compile all the recipes, and then make copies of your new “family cookbook.”
Take a drive to look at holiday lights. Perhaps you can visit an old neighborhood that your senior family member has memories … Read More »

The holidays are full of festivities, parties, gatherings, and celebrations. But, for an elderly loved one, holiday outings require a little advance planning. Follow these pointers from Hired Hands Homecare in an effort to enjoy fun and relaxed outings with loved ones of all ages this season.

Before leaving the home, consider:

The amount of walking involved, and if there is parking nearby
Whether the destination is flat or has hills or stairs to climb
If there is wheelchair access (if appropriate)
Whether there is cover and shade
Whether there are toilet facilities
Whether there are chairs or benches available in case the senior needs a rest

Be certain to be prepared for a wide range of possibilities:

Have all the medicines needed and take an extra supply, just in case the outing lasts longer or takes an unexpected turn
Have appropriate clothing as well as sun and rain protection
Bring … Read More »

New Year’s resolutions: we love to make them, and can’t help but break them. Perhaps you’ve been energized to eat better, lose those stubborn five pounds, quit a bad habit, or exercise more; but life has a way of interfering with our best intentions, and this is especially true for family members providing senior care for a loved one.

To make a real difference in quality of life for both yourself and the senior for whom you provide care, and to discover a New Year’s resolution you’ll actually want to adhere to in the months and years to come, try one of these suggestions, courtesy of Hired Hands Homecare:

Be thankful – to yourself. Recognize the tremendous selflessness required in caring for another, and make a point to treat yourself to regular, small rewards as a thank-you: a favorite treat from the … Read More »

Everywhere you look this time of year, you’ll see portrayals of the joys of the holiday season. But for many, the holiday season for seniors can bring about a sense of sadness and loss, as they recall holidays past when perhaps their health was better or when loved ones who have passed away were still with them. To help your senior loved ones beat the holiday blues, try some of these colorful tips:

RED: In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. What better way to celebrate the joy of the season than to offer assistance in decorating an elderly family member’s house for the holidays? Don’t forget to also volunteer to help take down the decorations after the holidays!

ORANGE: Put some logs on the fire or light some candles and cozy up to reminisce about special times and people. … Read More »

As we discussed in our last blog, bringing the whole family together for an activity, such as creating a memory book, can provide a wonderful opportunity to connect seniors more closely with the younger generations. At Hired Hands Homecare, we believe it’s so important to strengthen family bonds, and work hard to help seniors participate in activities that foster togetherness with their loved ones, fighting off feelings of loneliness and isolation. There’s no better time than the holidays to bring families together, so we’ve compiled some holiday tips for seniors to help your family.

Sometimes, physical or cognitive limitations can make it difficult for seniors to fully feel a part of the festivities. And sometimes, younger family members can get so caught up in the hectic pace we’ve grown accustomed to that even with the best of intentions, older family members … Read More »