Holiday Blues

The holiday period offers a lot of chances to spend some time with relatives and acquaintances. If you are a family member or a caregiver of an aged loved one, you might detect a transformation in their mood or conduct for the duration of the holidays. You might also become aware of strange signs of exhaustion or sadness or even limited attention in the holiday period.

The wintry festival season (along with the chilly months which escort it) can strengthen the feelings of grief which older people frequently experience. However, time and again it is not the festival that is the reason of these sorts of feelings in the elderly, but memories of happier times that might depress them.

What Leads to Depression in Seniors?

There are a lot of causes that lead to depression such as a severe medical condition, pain, loss of memory, meager diet, death of their significant other, best friend or cohort, shifting to a care facility, lack of exercise, alteration in routine and the common frustrations that accompany aging. Indications to look for consist of:

• Irritable mood
• Reckless behavior
• Feelings of insignificance or grief
• Weight loss
• Lack of attentiveness to personal hygiene
• Anxiety
• Trouble concentrating
• Compulsive thoughts concerning death and self-harm
• Lack of interest in everyday activities
• Fatigue
• Loss of desire for food

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal Affective Disorder is also known as winter blues, summer depression , winter depression, seasonal depression, summer blues and was at first regarded as a mood disorder among the people who did not show any abnormal psychological condition during the whole year and only experienced depression at a certain times of the year. Your aging senior might be suffering from this condition, even if he/she is living in a warm climate. Regardless, the only question we should ask ourselves should be how can I “brighten” their life and assist them with the condition?

How to Assist a Loved One During the Holidays?

Being the family member of an unhappy senior, it is your responsibility to be concerned. The person usually denies any difficulties or possibly will be scared of being psychologically ill. You can assist the senior person in feeling the magical delight of the season and feeling loved by making them a part of common activities for instance:

• Vacation – Visit relatives or stay in town to visit the sites you have never visited them before
• Caroling
• Gift packaging

If an old person’s despair is connected to a deceased dear one, the holiday period could make things very agonizing. The following activities may help to reduce the grief:

• Cooking the deceased’s much loved food
• Making a scrapbook about the deceased loved one
• Buying the departed a present – This serves as an aide memoir of better times and help keep the memories alive.

The nurses at Partners in Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home senior care needs including how to stay healthy at home with RN managed affordable care. We are a private duty home care agency that provides elder home care serves in the Orlando area. Call us at 407-788-9393.