The holidays can be a time of great joy for many, but they can also be a time of isolation and loneliness for others, particularly seniors. Tori Sorrells, the Sixty Plus coordinator for Piedmont Fayette Hospital, sees many seniors, families and caregivers struggle with these issues and others during the holiday season.
“Isolation can be a problem for seniors as many of them are widowed, may have outlived friends and relatives and might not have children close by,” Sorrells said. “The best thing to do for people in these situations is to reach out to them and visit with them. Perhaps you could offer to take them to church or to see the Christmas lights in the area.”
Sorrells has found that the holidays are a great time to reminisce with our elders, encouraging them to tell stories, look at old pictures and share memories.
“Long term memories are typically more resilient for persons with memory loss,” Sorrells said. “Allowing a senior to review pleasant life events can be a powerful experience for everyone.”
The holidays come with high expectations and those expectations can often bring stress. For seniors in particular, some of the stress may come from a busy or hectic gathering. Hearing impairment, for instance, can make a noisy gathering particularly over-stimulating and stressful. Aging also often means that we fatigue easier, so consider limiting the duration of a holiday event for seniors or make sure the senior has a place to rest comfortably and escape the hustle and bustle.
The holidays can also be a good time to check on the wellbeing of a senior. If you notice decreased mobility, the ability to care for one’s self, evidence of memory loss, pills on the floor or bottles full that should be partially empty, decreased personal hygiene or repetitiveness, these may be signs to mention to the senior’s physician or someone on the Sixty Plus Aging Helpline at 770-719-7214. The helpline provides quick, free answers and support for older adults and caregivers.
For information on Piedmont Fayette’s Sixty Plus Programs and Services, visit www.piedmont.org/sixty-plus.
