Kids & Family
Avoid a Blue Christmas with these Family Activities
How to keep seniors engaged to prevent the holiday blues
The holidays are a time for family gatherings and celebration. For many people, and the elderly in particular, the holidays are a time of remembering lost loved ones. MediNurse, St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing care and health related services for four decades, reminds the public that the best medicine for combatting sadness and preventing “holiday blues” is to keep busy!
Sadness, which can lead to depression, can happen to anyone, at any time and at any age. In seniors, it may be triggered by the death of a spouse or close family member, a severe illness, chronic pain, loss of independence or loneliness. Unfortunately, 15 out of 100 adults over 65 suffer from diagnosed depression impacting 6 million seniors. Untreated depression in the elderly can lead to various severe health issues; developing coping strategies is important.
MediNurse suggests five activities to keep seniors engaged during the holidays:
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- Take a walk down memory lane. Bring out old family movies and photo albums. Tell stories about the good times and turn sad memories into fun memories.
- Keep busy! Make holiday cookies, take a nature walk, play a game with the grandkids, watch your favorite holiday movie or go for a drive and enjoy all the beautiful holiday lights and decorations.
- Set up video calls with family members. Technology allows us to talk face-to-face with family members who are unable to visit for the holidays. Set up video calls with loved ones to help seniors from missing long distance family members.
- Get physical. Staying physically active also keeps seniors mentally fit. Go for a walk, dance, toss around a ball, or any other physical activity that can be done with family members.
- Ask for help. If staying busy and engaged is not improving your mood and you still find yourself feeling depressed, it’s important to reach out for help. Talk to your physician or speak to a professional counselor.
MediNurse is St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing services. MediNurse provides services that are customized to the individual needs of the client or patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com.