The Parkway Senior Living Prepares for Possible Holiday Blues

For many the holiday season is a joyful, happy time built around togetherness, family, and friends, but for some it can be very stressful and filled with overwhelming expectations, depression, and anxiety. The holiday season can be a reminder of those who are not with us anymore, financial limitations, sadness from being separated from loved ones, and the loss of treasured traditions. Celebrating this time of year doesn’t have to be a sad or overwhelming time. It can be a peaceful time of reminiscing, volunteering, spending time with friends, and creating new traditions!

Some common causes of depression during the holiday season are loss of family members, disease progression, and traumatic events. Signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress we should monitor for during the holiday season include loss of appetite, fatigue, and isolation. With some, noted body aches and pain.

We can help eliminate the holiday blues for our residents through holiday activities, physical activity, and social interaction. Loneliness is one of the most common causes of depression in the elderly during the holiday season. Medicine intervention, warm memories with discussion, and family focused activities can all help combat loneliness.

We need to encourage new and fulfilling traditions as well as provide reminders about daily activities, social committees, and planning with families for holiday events.

The holiday season means different things to each of us. The holidays are about family, friends, food, and tradition. For many, the smells, taste, and decorations bring memories flooding back. We at The Parkway Senior Living hope some of these ideas will be helpful as the holidays approach.