The holidays, for many, are a festive time for families to spend time together decorating, shopping, and baking, among other activities. But for some seniors, the kids are busy, the grandkids are grown up, and they don’t drive themselves anymore, making the holidays more of a sad time than a cheerful one. It’s easy for anyone to catch a case of the blues this time of year, but it can be especially so for seniors. There may be a couple of reasons why your loved one is less than merry this December, but more importantly, there are ways you can help them, even if you live far away or have a busy schedule.
What Causes Seniors’ Holiday Blues?
There are a couple of reasons why seniors get lonelier during the holidays. One reason is holiday fatigue. It happens to everyone: eventually, we just get tired of doing the same thing. For seniors, the holiday season is often just not the same as it used to be. When they see others around them enjoying this time of year when they don’t, it can quickly turn into the blues. This is especially true for seniors who live alone. They may want to decorate but can’t get to the decorations. They may want to cook their favorite holiday recipes but can’t get to the store to purchase the ingredients, lift the pans from the oven, or see well enough to read the measurements. This is another reason the holiday blues creep up on seniors—physical limitations. They just can’t do what they used to.
How to Get Seniors Back in the Holiday Spirit
Seniors who experience social isolation in that they live far away from friends and family also can easily get sad during the holidays, but there are ways to help aging in place loved ones. If your loved one seems to be less cheerful during this time of year, Marquette Home Care can provide them with companionship and relationships they otherwise wouldn’t get. Having a visitor for even a short time during the day can turn things around for seniors who have the holiday blues. Our clients benefit significantly from conversation and rapport with others. They are reminded that they are part of a community and can offer true value to someone else just by having a one-on-one conversation.
Making a Difference
Marquette Home Care offers transportation services and in-home assistance for our patients who want to go to the store and shop for gifts or need help baking a recipe. We can fulfill their needs and overshadow their loneliness so that their feelings don’t develop into depression that lingers on after the holidays are over. When our caregivers engage with seniors via in-home care, it can make a big difference for our clients. Furthermore, our staff knows what to look for in case our clients have become more depressed than just blue.
It’s inevitable that adult children of seniors aging in place cannot meet all the needs of their parents. Marquette Home Care understands, and we would be honored to provide care to your loved one in your place if you are unable to. We help clients across Marquette County, including Negaunee, Ishpeming, Harvey, Skandia, and Gwinn. Call us for more information at 906-361-8022.
