Loneliness During Holidays Can Lead to Depression in Seniors says Richard Ueberfluss, owner of Assisting Hands Home Care in Naperville, IL
Many people enjoy the holiday season and are happy to participate in the festivities and visit with family. However, there are those who deal with feelings of depression during the holiday season due to loneliness. This is especially common among senior citizens.
Owner of Assisting Hands of Naperville, Richard Ueberfluss, recently discussed holiday depression among senior citizens in a community piece with the Naperville Sun.
Ueberfluss points out that seniors who have lost their spouse or close friends, live far away from family, or suffer from poor health are the most likely to feel sad and depressed during the holidays.
It is also common for senior citizens to feel guilty about their depression which can make these feelings worse and cause them to hide these feelings from their family.
“It is not unusual for seniors to hide their feelings of isolation and sadness from family members during the holidays because they don’t want to worry the family by displaying these feelings or they try to deny them,” according to Richard.
If you have senior relatives, spending time with them during the holidays will help curb their feelings of depression. You can also enlist the help of home care aides like those form Assisting Hands Naperville to ensure that your loved ones are not alone.
“A practical solution is to use home care aides who can spend time visiting and caring for senior parents. The companionship will stave off depression and if depression is apparent, they can work with family members on proper remedies,” said Richard. “Nobody should be alone during the holidays and home care aides can fill the void.”
Contact Assisting Hands Naperville by calling (630) 352-3656 for more about our home care services.