Holidays are a time for fun, food, music, decorations, and gatherings of family and friends. Even though someone may be living with dementia, they will still want to participate in lifelong traditions and celebrations. However, due to cognitive changes, holidays for people with dementia won’t be the same as they were in the past.
The holidays are often a time of celebration, family and excitement. But for individuals living with dementia and the caregivers who support them, the holidays can present new challenges. For an individual living with dementia, the holidays can present physical, mental and emotional factors that may disrupt their day-to-day activities.
The holiday season can exacerbate seniors’ feelings of loneliness. This can cause health problems and affect their quality of life. Persistent loneliness can have the same health impact as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Since loneliness can exacerbate health issues and increase the risk of mortality, it is especially important to combat isolation and feelings of loneliness during the holidays.
It can be hard to tell how your senior parents are really doing at home when you don’t live near them. It’s one thing to talk on the phone or video chat, but going home for the holidays gives you a chance to check-in on their well-being while you catch up with everyone. Pay attention to the following signs when completing an Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Assessment to determine if your senior loved ones are in need of assistance.
It’s the holidays, “the most wonderful time of the year.” While this season is a time for us to celebrate life and our many blessings, stress can exist. I am a firm believer in living each day to the fullest and making each moment count, but how can we make the most of each day, particularly during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Here are some tips that have worked for me.
In case you missed it, throughout November we celebrated National Family Caregivers Month. Here at EPAGA Home Care, we have an incredible staff of caregivers. Throughout this past month, we jumped at the opportunity to broadcast our love and pride for a few of our own who show us what it truly means to provide care and bring joy—not only to those they care for, but to us as well. For those of you not a part of the Facebook network, heres a recap.
For many, November is the beginning of the greatest time of the year. The kick-start of a season of celebration; time spent reminiscing on the elements of our lives that we’re thankful for. When it comes to our EPAGA family, we, too, are thinking of the people and things we are thankful for. There are so many things that come to mind, but there is one integral part of the EPAGA family that we continue to be beyond proud of and fortunate for. For us, caregivers are what make the world go ‘round. Not only do they positively impact the lives of those we serve, but they are also the first to brighten our lives each and every day.
