Managing Holiday Stress With Help From Our Elderly Home Care Agency in Durham, NC
Everyone loves the holidays it's a time for family gatherings, plenty of good times, and a getting together at Grandmother's house for the holiday meal. Unfortunately, it's also a time of great stress for many seniors.
The holidays are a time where families tend to travel to their grandparents, dragging along the kids and filling up the house. While this might be great for the younger members of the family, most seniors say for them it is by far the most stressful time of the year for them.
Many seniors develop a routine that governs their lives from sunup to sundown, and even small deviations from the norm can cause anxiety. When it comes to family gatherings for the holidays, stress levels can become overwhelming. But the holidays are also a time of great stress for family caregivers as they take on extra duties while at the same time dealing with the stress their elderly loved ones are dealing with. To help make the holidays this year less stressful for all, here are a few expert tips from our elderly home care team:
Give us a call at (919) 338-2044 to learn more!
Assign Dishes
Meal preparation is the most stressful say many seniors. Try assigning dishes to each guest or have them bring a favorite. No stress for grandma and everyone gets to enjoy the day, especially when the kids all help with cleanup.
A Little Peace and Quiet
Too much noise can be overwhelming for most seniors, plan at least one activity that gets the kids and most of the adults out of the house for a while so the grandma and grandpa can get a little peace and quiet or even a nap.
Gifts Not Needed
Buying gifts can be very stressful when you live on a fixed income, but if you create a way that grandma and grandpa can only have to buy for one person in the family each year (a rotation or drawing), then you can eliminate this stress.
Keeping an Eye Out
Have at least one person keeping an eye out on grandma and grandpa for signs of tiredness or feeling out of place. Perhaps this would be an excellent time to get everyone out for a Christmas walk or to find grandma something to do.
A Helping Hand
Even the best family caregivers can become overwhelmed; we can provide you with a respite caregiver to help out with things like addressing holiday cards, making decorations, or homemaking chores to give you time to catch your breath. An important elderly home care option for family members!
Remember it's all in the details, the more you iron things out and make sure everything is taken care of, the less stressful this holiday season will be for everyone, including grandma and grandpa. To learn more about our options, contact us online anytime or give us a call at (919) 338-2044.
