Most people would like to think of the holiday season as a time of love, laughter, joy, and peace, but the unfortunate reality is that this is a time of year when the risk for depression increases. Many people suffer from depressed mood and bouts of clinical depression during this time. This can stem from a wide variety of reasons, including isolation, thinking of lost loved ones, and challenges that might keep them from being able to participate in the holidays as much as they would like to. As a family caregiver you can make a tremendous difference in your parent’s ability to enjoy the holiday season and in their health and well-being by taking steps to help reduce depression for them during the holiday season.

Use these tips to protect your parent from depression or ease depression symptoms for them during the holiday season:

• Keep in touch with them. You are likely to be busy during the holiday season, but make sure that you set aside time to call your parent or schedule visits to spend time with them. make sure that your focus is not just care efforts, but actually spending quality time and connecting with them.
• Keep them socially active. Find activities, gatherings, and events that they can attend that will get them with more people. This interaction stimulates their mind, boosts their mental and emotional health, and encourages an overall higher quality of life.
• Increase their care. A home care provider is not just important for handling their care needs. They can also be valuable for companionship that reduces loneliness and isolation, stimulates their mind, and supports more activity and a better quality of life.
• Get them involved. Find as many ways as possible to get your parent involved in the preparation for and celebration of the holidays. Even if they are not able to do all of the things that they used to, showing them that they are still relevant and important will help reduce the risk of depression.
• Honor loved ones. If your parent is suffering depression because they are thinking about a lost loved one, such as their partner, take the time to honor this person in meaningful ways. By acknowledging them and the love that the family still has for them, it can be easier to cope with the difficult emotions.

Starting home care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you make for them. A home care services provider can be with your parent on a fully customized schedule that ensures that they have access to the care, support, assistance, and companionship that they need to maintain the highest quality of life possible as they age in place. This care provider will create a highly personalized set of services tailored specifically to your senior’s individual challenges, limitations, and needs. These services will meet these needs in ways that are right for your parent, while also encouraging a lifestyle that is as independent, engaged, and fulfilling as possible. As a family caregiver, this will give you confidence that your loved one is living the quality of life that they desire and deserve, and that they are getting everything that they need both when you are able to be with them and when you are not. This eases your stress and allows you to focus your time, energy, and effort on all aspects of your life in the most effective way.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care services in South Riding, VA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 982-0050.