The holiday season can be both a time of great joy and extra stress, especially for older adults and their caregivers. Holidays represent family, emotion, memories of times past as well as the reality that things aren’t how they once were. The good news is that there are several strategies that help manage stress.
Earlier in her career, our founder, Janet Brush was a Geriatric Social Worker in New York City and would occasionally visit the Riverdale Jewish Home as an observer. Her favorite visits were when she got to watch the magic of music transform residents who were living with middle and late-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
We are fortunate to live in a mild climate so that we don’t typically need to worry about ice and snow during the winter. We still can have some winter challenges though and these tips offer some ways to keep our seniors safe and healthy through the winter months.
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.
This month we acknowledge all of those who care for family members, usually at no cost to the elder.
The best way to honor ourselves and loved ones is to live healthy lifestyles and take advantage of all that is available to us preventatively.
