The Holidays are here! The hustle and bustle has already started. The shopping madness has begun, and soon, our home will become the center for all the activities. At this time of year it is easy for our senior parents to be either shuffled aside, or if included, it can bring added stress for them.
The holidays are not as easy as one might think. As our senior parents age, they can be an emotionally difficult time; full of fears, depression, powerful memories, and unfamiliar noises, activity, and stress. This all contributes to seniors feeling overwhelmed as they start to lose their faculties.
There are many factors to consider:
- Seniors who are Aging in Place, their world tends to close in. The outside world can present too many potential challenges and accidents for them. There is a fear factor in leaving their familiar surroundings.
- Seniors can get the Holiday Blues. Have they lost someone near to them like a death of a spouse or dear friend? Do they miss family members that they don’t see much anymore? Watch for signs of depression!
- Fall and winter brings about added fears — Ice and Snow. Cold temperatures bring on increased risk of slipping and falling. Skin issues can result too. Does your home have drafts or colder rooms that might cause Mom or Dad to chill? Snow can be scary for seniors too. If a senior feels restricted or of increased difficulty of transportation or getting home due to snow storms or flooding can cause increased anxiety.
- Hearing and Vision issues: If a parent is hard of hearing, many hearing aids make everything louder. It can be overwhelming. As a result it can cause your parent to isolate. Vision challenges can increase the risk of falling or running into things.
- If Mom & Dad live in Retirement or Assisted Living — consult with care staff. Make sure you have a full understanding from their perspective as to your parents’ needs. Make sure you get any medications that they are taking with a schedule for them to take.
Should your parents come to visit with you over the holidays? Yes!!
You can create an easy and pleasurable environment with a little bit of forethought and preparation for their visit. We can provide the little things that can make the difference in your parents’ comfort and feeling of security.
Here are some tips that help you be well prepared for your parent to your family gathering:
- Car Transportation: By using a blanket underneath Mom and/or Dad in the car seat not only does it assist in helping the process of getting in and out of the car by giving you the ability to grab the blanket, to help them shift in the seat, lifting them out of the car to a walker or wheelchair. In addition it also is added comfort and warmth if needed.
- Management of Medication: This is extremely important for Mom and/or Dad if the visit is an extended one. Use a ‘Smart’ Pill Box, which not only separates medication daily, but also by morning and evening. In addition, smart phones offer great application downloads that can remind you when a prescription needs to be taken. (RxmindMe Prescription® or OnTimeRx®).
- Home Temperature: Likely needs to be warmer than usual in your home. Make a point to keep your home warm, and give your parent an extra blanket or throw to use while they visit.
- Give them a comfortable chair that is easy to rise up in. If your furniture sits low to the ground, stack higher cushions on top so they can rise easily. Make sure the chairs have arms and that the furniture won’t slip and slide as they rise and sit.
- Prepare your Home: Even if they are only coming for the day. They are likely not used to all the happenings and stimulation that a holiday gathering brings. Likely it will wear them out. Mom and/or Dad need to rest or nap. They need to be able to get from one place to another. Set aside some time to allow mom and/or dad time to rest and regroup.
- Bring a change of clothing and extra supplies! Accidents can happen. If you are bringing your parents to your home, even for an afternoon, bring extra undergarments and a change of clothing. If your parent has problems with incontinence, make sure you bring those supplies with you as well.
- A picture is worth a thousand words! These words were never more true when it comes to spending time with seniors. Often times grandchildren especially do not know how to connect with their aging grandparents, and it can cause a bit of awkwardness or Take time to sit with your parents one-on-one, and go through family photos! They will love reliving happy times, and sharing them with you, and it eliminates the frustration of how to connect with them, or what subjects to talk about.
In the guest room
- It’s important to remember to remove floor and throw rugs before a visit as elder parents those seniors who may use a walker or who are not easily walking, they can catch their feet on them and ultimately trip or fall.
- When the temperature outside gets cold, it hits seniors much harder. Since there is less muscle and fat, the ability to generate body heat becomes more difficult. Be sure to set aside some extra blankets, and raise the temperature in your home.
- After the age of 60, fall and winter weather is not skins best friend. Be sure to have lotion not only in the bathroom, but on the guest room nightstand, too.
If your parent uses a wheelchair or walker, make sure there is adequate room for them to navigate around the bed to the door and to the bathroom.
In the bathroom
- Remove throw rugs from the floor
- Purchase a raised toilet seat
- If no grab bars are in place and your parents need help, make sure you accompany them (Or just install grab bars)
- Double check the bathroom during your holiday gathering to make sure that the floor is always dry and no clutter is left on the floor
In the living areas
- Clear walk ways from all clutter, including removing throw rugs
- If you have area rugs, make sure they have non-slip mats anchoring them. If so, make sure you ALWAYS assist your parent when walking around in your home
- Don’t overpower your home with decorations. Too much stimulation can be draining on seniors
- Limit background noise. We all love Holiday music, but to those with hearing problems it can become overwhelming and amplify hearing aids. It can cause a lot of stress on your senior parent.
- If anything gets spilled, clean it up promptly. One small piece of candy, if slipped on can cause a catastrophic accident. l
