Embracing the Holiday Season: Cherishing Time with Loved Ones

Embracing the Holiday Season: Cherishing Time with Loved Ones

As we enter the final months of the year, the upcoming holiday season brings about a sense of gratitude and reflection. It’s a time to forge lasting memories, cherish moments spent with others, and celebrate longstanding traditions. In this blog post, we explore ways to spend quality time with loved ones during the holidays.

Here are five simple strategies to create sincere and heartfelt holiday memories with family and friends:

  1. Set the mood
    Play your favorite holiday tunes. Sharing music with others can spark happy memories and help relieve stress. There’s nothing like a classic holiday tune coming on to lift your spirits.  
  2. Decorate together
    Decorating is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with others. If the person you’re caring for has treasured holiday decorations, be sure to use them. Discuss each piece as you take it out of storage and ask where they prefer certain decorations to be placed. Prioritize their favorite items by putting them where they can be seen and appreciated the most. Just be sure to decorate in a way that doesn’t pose any potential safety hazards. 
  3. Prioritize holiday favorites
    Ask what traditions or treats they look forward to the most each holiday season and focus on making those things happen to the best of your ability. Sharing special moments can bring a sense of contentment and cheerfulness into your life and can be a source of comfort. 
  4. Reminisce
    Encourage your loved one to tell stories of the past. Sharing memories with others can provide an opportunity for laughter and a feeling of being connected. Another great way to reminisce is to go through photo albums and talk about the years gone by.
  5. Simplify holiday meals
    Reducing your workload on the day of holiday events can help you and your loved ones appreciate these gatherings more. Instead of making a large meal from scratch, focus on preparing only a few favorite recipes and using premade dishes to round out the meal. It can also help to split up the grocery shopping and cooking among other family members and guests.

By embracing the holiday season, and spending quality time with loved ones, you can start the new year with a renewed sense of joy and purpose. Remember, Boston Senior Home Care’s Caregiver Solutions program is available to support you every step of the way. For more information and to enroll in the program, click HERE. 

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Spending Time with Loved Ones

Holiday gatherings are cherished traditions for many families. It’s a time when we get to eat delicious food and enjoy being together. The holidays also allow us to spend time with older loved ones and note any changes in their health, or home environment. During your visit, you may see subtle or substantial signs that an older adult in your life needs help to safely age in place. It’s important to be proactive and keep your eyes and ears open.

A multigenerational family eats together at a dinner table. Older adults enjoying time with a younger child at the dinner table. It is important to watch older adults throughout your holiday visits.

Ten tips for observing older adults during your visit:

1. Do a home safety inspection. Make sure to test smoke alarms and check the house for loose wiring and improper lighting. Pay close attention while inspecting stairways and walkways. 

2. Take a look around the kitchen. Place dishes and pans on convenient, easy-to-reach shelves.

3. Assess the house for excess clutter, dust, or other signs that assistance with housecleaning is needed.

4. Check the refrigerator and pantry to ensure there’s enough food and other supplies. Ensure there are enough supplies for beyond the holidays.

5. Install grab bars in the bathroom.

6. Check for scatter rugs and uneven flooring that could cause a fall. Falls are one of the most dangerous problems for older adults.

7. Research local resources for older adults. Things like grocery delivery and transportation services can help keep them safe.

8. Know where important papers, such as insurance cards and advance directives are located.

9. Get an updated medication list from their doctor or pharmacy. Check medicine cabinets for expired medications.

10. Identify one or two neighbors who would be willing to drop in occasionally. Exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses and encourage them to contact you if they have concerns.

If you think an older adult in your life needs assistance, such as personal care, medication reminders, or light housekeeping, Boston Senior Home Care can help. Our highly-trained staff will work with you to ensure that your loved ones remain safe and independent at home. 

For more information, call us at 617-292-6211 or email us at [email protected]. 

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