Christmas and New Year holidays should be the happiest time of the year. Families finally have some time to get together and celebrate with a lavish feast. However, is this true for everyone? Sadly, it isn’t. The seniors whose beloved passed away and whose family lives far away from them do not share the same excitement regarding the holidays. As the research shows, they are even more depressed at this time of the year since they are constantly bombarded by other people’s happiness and enjoyment which reminds them of what they once had and lost.
Since holidays shouldn’t be only about getting presents, but also about helping others, we have singled out different ways in which you can help the seniors feel better and have a nice time for Christmas.
Help the seniors communicate with their family
Since a lot of seniors haven’t even heard of Skype, you can be the one who will help them get in touch with their family using this technology. This won’t take you a lot of time, but for them it will mean a lot to hear from their loved ones. Seeing them on the computer screen, even though they are so far away, will significantly improve the senior’s mood.
Listen to what they are telling you
No matter whether you are their neighbor, a caregiver, or a family member you should take some time to talk to the senior. Although they sometimes tend to go on and on about past events, try to show some interest by asking questions and showing compassion. You may even encourage them to show you their old photo albums. This way they will have someone to share their old memories with, which is what we all like to do during holidays.
Be a Santa to a senior
Many seniors are provided with a great in home care. However, since holidays’ time is particularly tough for them, as their caregiver, you can make an extra effort and do something personal for them. If you know that they usually don’t get presents for Christmas, be the one who will bring them something. This small gesture will be a huge surprise for them and will certainly make them feel less lonely and forgotten. You can also become a volunteer in the programs designed to help the elderly, such as: Be a Santa to a Senior.
Have a senior as a guest at your celebration
If you are having a big family dinner for Christmas, leave room for the elderly family member as well. If they live all the way across town, go and fetch them. This way you will show them how much you care for them and that you really want them to be a part of your holiday celebration, not just that you feel an obligation to do so.
Call their friends to join the celebration
If you know that your senior has some friends that they don’t meet often because of the distance or poor health, Christmas is the perfect time to arrange their meeting. You can organize a surprise party and prepare some special dinner for them. You can make the table look very festive by using different colors and buying Christmas themed napkins. This may seem as a small detail, but it will certainly mean a lot to the senior, who will feel loved, and there is nothing better than love to boost someone’s self-esteem and health, since nothing can destroy it as depression can.
As you can see, you don’t need to put a lot of effort into doing something nice for someone. If you follow some of the advice, not only will you help a person in need, but you will feel better about yourself as well. Holidays are made for sharing and if you want to celebrate them the right way, this is how you can start.
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