Let’s face it: the holidays can be simultaneously wonderful and stressful. The stress can multiply if you are a caregiver for an elderly family member. In order to ease some of that stress and bring the holiday spirit to everyone, consider incorporating some of the ideas listed here. Baking, easy decorating activities, holiday crafts and having a friend or neighbor drop in for a small gathering can be simple and effective ways to include your aging loved ones who are receiving care at home and who are not as mobile as they once were. These types of festivities are also great ways to involve grandchildren as well.

Activities such as watching home movies together or looking through old pictures as a group can be a nice way to remember those times as a family to help alleviate feelings of loneliness in an aging loved one. Or perhaps you can play some traditional holiday tunes and sing along. Reminiscing can be an enjoyable activity for everyone and a valuable way of sharing memories and family history with younger generations. If your loved one lives in a memory care community or receives help from paid home care services, these activities are also perfect for staff and caregivers to initiate.

Does your loved one like to play checkers or a card game? Get the whole family together for a round or two. This will help your aging loved one to engage, and will help you to step out of your role as a caregiver and focus on being a family member. Of course, it’s also important to plan for quiet time, in order to recharge. This might include encouraging them to take a nap or just sitting with them in a quiet area to gauge how they are doing. Taking a drive to see the holiday lights is always a fun and festive way to get out without it taking a heavy physical toll on anyone. It’s a sure way to boost anyone’s holiday spirit!

Activities such as watching home movies together or looking through old pictures as a group can be a nice way to remember those times as a family to help alleviate feelings of loneliness in an aging loved one.