Monday 16 December 2013

How can we Help our Seniors Survive the Holidays?

By Reaching Out: Social connectedness is especially important during holiday times. Reaching out to older relatives, friends, and or neighbors who are alone is something all of us should do. Loneliness is a difficult emotion for anyone and especially troublesome during the holiday season. While visiting with any senior stroll down memory lane with them. People whose memories are impaired may have difficulty remembering recent events, but they are often able to share stories and observations from the past. These shared memories are important for the young as well—children enjoy hearing about how it was when older people were their age. Use picture albums, videos and or music, even theme songs from old radio or TV programs, to help stimulate memories and encourage seniors to share their stories and experiences. By Creating New Memories: In addition to memories, seniors need new things to anticipate. Add something new to the holiday celebration. Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, or window-shopping at the mall or along a festive downtown street. Remember to involve all in holiday meal preparation, older adults with physical limitations can still be included in kitchen activities by asking them to do a simple, helpful task, like greasing cooking pans, peeling vegetables, folding napkins, wrapping gifts, or arranging flowers. Don’t forget to bring your pet! The benefits of playing with a very happy to see them pet is tenfold. When one person is happy, it can lift the spirits of others. So what mood do you want to create this holiday? Is it one of joy and fun? Peace and love? Giving and sharing? It's time to think about what might make a special holiday season for any senior that you visit.