The Holidays May Not Be the Most Wonderful Time of Year for Many Seniors

The holidays aren’t always happy for seniors. For many, the season can cause depression due to lost loved ones or health or financial problems. The holidays aren’t always happy for seniors. For many, the season can cause depression due to lost loved ones or health or financial problems.

For some seniors, this despondency can lead to suicide, according to the American Geriatrics Society, which noted that the 2016 suicide rate for Americans over the age of 65 was 17 per 100,000 – an increase over previous years. Among males, the suicide rate was highest for those aged 65 and older.

The society offers seniors some tips on how to avoid feeling blue during the holidays:

Get out and about. Ask family and friends for help traveling to parties and events or invite family and friends to your home.
Volunteer. Helping others can be a great mood lifter. Contact local schools, churches, synagogues and mosques to find out about volunteer opportunities.
Don’t drink too much alcohol, which can lower your spirits.
Accept and express your feelings. There’s nothing wrong with not feeling happy during the holidays — many people feel the same way. Talking about your feelings can help you understand why you feel the way you do.
Recognize the signs of depression, which include: sadness that won’t lift; loss of interest or pleasure; changes in appetite and weight; sleeping much more than normal; crying often; feeling restless or tired all the time; feeling worthless, helpless or guilty; slowed thinking; thoughts of death or suicide.

If you notice that an older loved one seems depressed, lend a hand by offering to help them with shopping, transportation and preparations for get-togethers in their homes, the society advises. Encourage your loved one to talk about how he or she is feeling and acknowledge their difficult feelings.

You should also encourage your loved one to talk to a health-care provider. Many older people don’t realize when they’re depressed. If you believe an older loved one is depressed, tell them depression is a medical illness that can be treated and managed.

While the holidays may not feel festive for everyone, they do provide a good opportunity to observe older loved ones to see how they are doing. Take some time to really check-in with loved ones and, most importantly, remind them how much you care.

Dina Kadan White2021-02-28T13:49:38+00:00December 21st, 2018|

About the Author: Dina Kadan White

As Vice President of Kadan Homecare, White oversees the day-to-to day operations and assists with strategic planning for company. White has worked with Kadan full-time for the past 11 years, although she has been engaged with the family-run firm at some level for most of her adult life. Prior to joining Kadan, White served as Director of Product Development at Equifax and previously was a Marketing Director with Wachovia. These jobs prepared her well for a position where she works for the benefit of all aspects of this highly client-focused agency. White holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a member of the National Private Duty Association, a membership organization for firms whose homecare model is to employ, train, monitor and supervise caregivers, create a plan of care for the client and work toward a safe and secure environment for the person at home. White is also a member of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.