Holiday and Christmas Activities for Elderly Adults

The holiday season can be the most wonderful time of the year.

Folks are a little nicer, the world seems a little cheerier, and above all else — we have an excuse to get together with our family and friends. Unfortunately, for some seniors, the holidays can be a pretty lonely time. Seniors who live alone — or who live in a care facility and don’t socialize as much as they should — are at risk of anxiety and depression, especially during the holidays.

The Elderly and Christmas

Human beings are inherently social creatures — we crave the opportunity for connection with others, and even the crankiest senior in your life wants to know others and be known. A 2019 study by Harvard Medical School’s Journals of Gerontology found that, “Older adults who interacted with people beyond their usual social circle of family and friends were more likely to have higher levels of physical activity, greater positive moods, and fewer negative feelings.”

Rather than wait for Christmas Day to invite your senior over, consider looking for opportunities to include them in your pre-holiday activities or help them make new traditions of their own. Especially ones where they’ll be encouraged to meet people and get out of their comfort zone — volunteer at your local church or homeless shelter, take them shopping for gifts with you, or ask for their help decorating and party planning. The good news is that there are many of these options in the Temecula, Murrieta, and Menifee greater areas.

To learn how your loved one can live at home in the Temecula, Murrieta, and Menifee greater areas, please visit our website at Greater Temecula Providing Caregivers | Griswold (griswoldcare.com), call/text 951-346-1352, or email nolan.chandler@griswoldhomecare.com.