Say No to Seasonal Blues for Residents in Senior Living Communities

Say No to Seasonal Blues for Residents in Senior Living Communities

Can you feel the holiday season approaching?  We sure can! Starting with Halloween, it can feel like time flies forward through New Year’s Day.  Before you know it, it’s a new year, and you didn’t take the time to visit your loved ones in their senior living community.

Approximately 6 million people over the age of 65 are depressed. But unfortunately, few seek treatment. Chronic health issues, feelings of loneliness, and loss of loved ones can exacerbate feelings of depression and make the holidays a tough time for some seniors.

So, to prevent an increase in depression amongst seniors, take a look at your calendar today and plan a few visits between now and the new year to ensure that you take the time to visit your parents or grandparents.  In the past, you might have gone to your grandparent’s house for Thanksgiving. Is there a special recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation? Do you have that family recipe? Ask your grandma or grandpa for the family recipe, take the time to learn it, and even bring them the finished product to their senior living community.

For those of you who work in a senior living community, be sure to utilize the Accushield Love Meter feature.  Managers and staff can see how many times family members have visited their residents. If you notice that it’s been a while since a resident has had a visitor, carve out some time to spend with those residents.  You can positively influence your residents’ state of well-being.

Sure, the holidays are stressful and possibly gloomy for you, but imagine how lonely it can be for your loved ones who reside in a senior living community.  As the weather gradually gets colder and the days get shorter, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) becomes extremely prevalent. You are not going to be able to do ALL OF THE THINGS during this time of year anyway, and that’s perfectly okay. Choose a few events that are very important to you or the people who you genuinely want to be around, and let the rest go.  The world will keep on spinning