Even though the yuletide season is usually viewed as a time that is joyful, full of visiting family and friends who are nearest and dearest, and finding the perfect gifts, for seniors, it can be anything but merry and bright. A blend of loved ones lost, memories of holidays past, health issues, and more can hit seniors with emotions of loneliness and sorrow. 

Help at Home Senior Care, professional provider of home care and dementia care in Lincoln, CA and nearby areas, cares deeply about making certain that older adults feel included in the celebrations and enjoy the holidays to the fullest. These guidelines for fun holiday activities for seniors can help everyone enjoy the wonder of the holiday season together:

• Develop a cookbook with recipes from family members. Compile all the recipes together, and then make copies of your new family cookbook.
• Take a drive to see holiday lights in an old neighborhood that the senior grew up in.
• If the senior has trouble taking the time to put out holiday decorations, offer your help! This is a great way to share memories of past holidays and the story behind different decorations. Help at Home Senior Care can also supply help with holiday decorating.
• For a holiday that is truly relaxing, schedule time together at a local beauty shop or spa. You can even arrange for a local beautician or masseuse to come to the home, if it’s possible.

Safety precautions may also come into play for the older adult, for a variety of reasons: heightened fall risks with all of the extra holiday decorations, difficulties sticking to a prescribed dietary plan, and for those with dementia, interruption to routine, additional visitors to the home, and higher noise levels can all lead to stress.

Keep the following in mind to be sure older adults remain safe and content:

• Keep decoration safety in mind. Ensure that there are clear walking paths, and try to utilize simple, uncluttered decorations. 
• Reduced lighting can cover up things that seniors could possibly trip over, such as extension cords.
• Set aside a quiet area for the older person if the enthusiasm of young children, loud music, and activities become stressful.
• Appoint someone to be the older adult's "buddy" for the event, making certain his or her needs are fully met and establishing a bond that is wonderful for both.

The holiday season can certainly be fun and relaxing for everyone. With just a little pre-planning and additional thought, older individuals will enjoy the holidays as much as everyone else, creating new memories that the whole family will take pleasure in for a lifetime.

And, if in the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle you could use the support of professional home caregivers to provide home care or dementia care in Lincoln, CA or the surrounding area, Help at Home Senior Care is on hand to help! Contact us online or call us at (530) 885-7444 to learn more about how we can support you and your family and for more ideas for fun holiday activities for the elderly to enjoy this holiday season.