Tips for Enjoying the Holidays with Your Senior Loved Ones (2018)

The holiday season is here! You’ve probably already heard many Christmas songs and commercials as well as seen Christmas decorations in stores and on neighbors’ houses. While this is a memorable time of year, it’s important to remember that during this time, different people can experience many different emotions – from joy, love and anticipation to loneliness, sadness and feeling blue. If you’re a caregiver, or if you have a senior loved one in your family, this is important to remember since it’s not uncommon for some seniors to feel down around the holidays.

Knowing your loved one may experience some holiday blues, why not try to make the holidays a joyful time for them? There are many ways to enjoy the season with your family, friends and senior loved ones – even if your senior loved one can’t get around as easily as they used to or has experienced some cognitive decline. If you’re wondering how you can go about doing this, take a look at our ideas below for inspiration.

• Cook Together – It’s possible to include everyone in the holiday meal preparation. If your senior loved one has cognition problems, they could help by greasing pans, setting the table, arranging centerpieces and stirring ingredients. Breaking down the tasks will give your loved one plenty of options for helping. If possible, ask your senior loved one if you can try cooking one of their famous holiday dishes, and have them assist you.

• Take a Trip to See Holiday Light Displays – One way to get in the holiday spirit is to take a trip to see holiday light displays. This is a great option for seniors as it doesn’t always involve walking around and can mostly be done by sightseeing from the comfort of your own car. If there aren’t official light displays nearby, drive around neighborhoods to see their holiday decorations. Just be sure to scout them out in advance, to make sure you aren’t spending too much time in the car.

• Volunteer – Spend time with your loved one, and other family and friends, by volunteering and giving back to the community – especially if your loved one lives in a senior care community. Not only will you have the opportunity to spend quality time together, but you’ll also make a difference by lending a helping hand, which will leave you feeling fulfilled. There are many options to volunteer even if your loved one has mobility constraints. Contact your local senior care community to get involved.

• Create New Memories – While it’s enjoyable to look back on past experiences and wonderful memories, it’s also a great time to create new memories. Make your holiday get togethers memorable for you and your senior loved one by participating in an activity together. There are many options that can be tailored to your loved one’s physical and mental condition – whether it’s singing holiday music, decorating cookies, hanging up special ornaments or decorations, recreating an old family photo or playing a game.

As you can see, it’s pretty simple to include your senior loved one in many festive activities to help them enjoy the holidays. Since most activities can be broken down and modified to meet your loved one’s needs, you can help to brighten their mood and make memories that can last forever. Is there a holiday activity that you enjoy with your senior loved one, or is there an activity that you’ll try this season? If so, share it with us below!

If you’re looking for additional ideas to help cheer up your senior loved one during the winter months, take a look at our article with 7 tips on helping seniors beat the winter blues.

Do you have questions about Concordia or are interested in how we can help you and your loved one? If so, please contact us any time via our online contact form or by calling our administrative headquarters at 724-352-1571. Or, visit the care levels & services page of our website to learn about the types of care we offer, including In-Home Care, Memory Care, Long-Term Nursing Care, Adult Day Services, Hospice Care and more.