For most of us, the holidays are a wonderful time to share the joys of family life and friendship. But for many older adults, the holidays can be highly stressful, confusing, or even depressing if their mental, physical and emotional needs are not taken into account. Older, frail family members can get lost in the shuffle and chaos of happy family gatherings. Additionally, there are particular influences that contribute to seniors being at risk for the "holiday blues."

Many seniors face loneliness. Even if family members live in the same city, adult children often become so busy with their own lives and social obligations that they fail to recognize how much their parents or grandparents look forward to spending time with them during the holidays. Help an elderly person enjoy the holiday season by following these simple tips:

Stroll down memory lane. Older people whose memories are impaired may have difficulty remembering recent events, but they are often able to share stories and observations from the past. Use picture albums, family videos and music, even theme songs from old radio or TV programs to help stimulate memories and encourage older seniors to share their stories and experiences.

Get out of the house. In addition to memories, seniors need new things to anticipate. Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, or window-shopping at the mall or along a festive downtown street.

Be inclusive in meal preparation. Involve everyone in holiday meal preparation, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and oldest family members.

Reach out. Social connectedness is especially important at holiday times. Spend quality time with senior family members and make it easier for them to be social by purchasing food they can have on-hand to entertain without stress when folks stop by, such as nuts, dried fruit, and an assortment of teas and cookies in tins.

Monitor medications and alcohol. Be sure to help older family members adhere to their regular schedules of medications during the frenzy of the holidays, or contact Freedom Home Care for assistance with medication reminders. Also, pay attention to alcohol consumption during holiday parties and family gatherings, as alcohol can interfere with medications.

For information on our options for quality care at home, contact Freedom Home Care in Dothan, Alabama at 334-803-8078 or Opelika, Alabama at 334-745-7308. Freedom Home Care also has offices in Columbus, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama.