Being There – Supporting Seniors This Holiday Season
By Suzanne Dumaresq
Article originally appeared in Thrive magazine
The upcoming holiday season will bring families together — many who may not have seen one another since the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a time for gatherings and celebrations. It’s also an opportunity to check-in on aging family members and friends and reconnect in ways that make sense in the “new normal.”
Connect With a Senior
Some tips on how to reach out and brighten up a senior’s day:
- Be Available – Take time to keep in touch
- Be Present – When chatting, really listen
- Be Dependable – Don’t reschedule visits
- Help Seniors Find New Ways to Keep in Touch – Determine what technology they’re comfortable with and teach them to use text and social media to keep up with family and friends.
Evaluate a Senior’s Wellness
If you haven’t seen a loved one for a period of time, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Signs of physical aging may be more obvious, but be on the lookout for the emotional toll of the past year. There may be cause for concern or a need for intervention, support or professional care if a senior is experiencing:
- Sadness or a depressed mood lasting for more than two weeks
- Tiredness or a loss of interest in things once enjoyed
- A change in weight or loss of appetite
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Anxiety, agitation or restlessness