The holidays can be a stressful time of year. That stress can come in many different forms. For some folks, stress can be generated because they might not know what to buy their loved one’s for the holidays as a gift. Or, they might not have enough expendable income to purchase the gifts that they know their family deserves. For other people, that stress is because of more dire circumstances. They might not have the ability to provide a special experience for the people that they love. Or, they might be separated from their friends and family for some reason, maybe because they are away because of military service, business, or because they are receiving medical treatment.
For other people, the stress of the holiday comes from the fact that being with family can be pretty difficult to arrange. This is especially of senior citizens that might be homebound or have difficulty getting around. In these cases, the holiday season can take on a very difficult tone. No one wants to spend this time of year by themselves, so it’s important that you take these members of your family into consideration when planning out your activities this year.
There are a few different situations that you might need to consider for an elderly loved one this year. First, are they living at home or are they in an assisted living facility or nursing home? If they live at home, either by themselves or with another family member, then holiday planning will be much easier. This is true whether they are receiving in-home care or able to fully care for themselves. You can help provide transportation for them when everyone is getting together if that’s needed. Or, if they are homebound and can’t get out easily, then you can bring the family to them.
If they live in a care facility of some sort, then holiday planning might be a bit more difficult. First, check in with the staff at the home they are living in. Not only will the staff let you know whether or not your parent is able to travel somewhere else for a few hours, they can inform you of any conditions that you will need to be aware of while they are with you. If travel is possible, then you have much more freedom to celebrate the way you wish. If it’s not, plan along with the staff when would be a good time to come and visit with your loved one. When doing so, it’s important that you be respectful of other residents.
More important than anything else is that your parent know that they are loved and not forgotten during the holiday season–and all year long, for that matter. The holidays are a time of celebration, and including the entire family, regardless of age, is something that will enhance the enjoyment of the holiday season for everyone. And taking each and every family member’s needs into account while planning this year will reduce not just your stress levels, but theirs, too.
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