December is Stress Free Holiday month and what better way to celebrate than by taking steps to give your senior parent or relatives a stress free holiday? Seniors who are aging in place can find the holidays stressful and may be overwhelmed by the social demands of holiday get together’s and events. If you’re hosting holiday parties or events and you want to make sure that your senior parent or relatives enjoy themselves and don’t get too stressed out at your home use these tips to make them more comfortable:

Arrange For Home Care

Seniors may have trouble getting ready to attend holiday events and they may feel anxious about driving in the winter weather. With home care your senior parent will have a caregiver dedicated to making sure they feel comfortable and are able to get to the party safely. And with someone who is looking out for them and will drive them home they will feel more comfortable leaving when they are tired instead of feeling like they have to wait for someone to drive them home.

Take Their Physical Abilities Into Consideration

Seniors often don’t want to ask for special considerations, but they may need some. Make sure that the walkway to the house is free of snow and ice and well-lighted. If there are stairs leading into your home and your loved one has trouble with stairs consider having people come in through another door. Place lots of comfortable chairs throughout your entertaining space so they can sit when they need to. And make sure that the hallway and bathroom are well-lit so that seniors can find their way around easily. 

Make Sure There Are Foods They Can Eat Easily

Seniors that have trouble holding utensils or who have tremors that could cause a cup to shake may be embarrassed and not want to eat or drink. Instead of having a sit down formal dinner which could be difficult for seniors have a buffet and make sure there are finger foods and other foods that seniors can easily eat. Include some soft foods like chicken salad, mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs that seniors will be able to eat if they have dental challenges or haven’t put their dentures in. 

Make Sure To Include Them In Discussions 

Seniors who are hard of hearing may feel left out of conversations and discussions. Make it a point to bring your senior parent or relative into the conversation. Minimize background noise like music and speak up so that they can easily hear you. Encourage the other guests to speak at a higher volume so that your senior parent or relative can hear and participate in the conversation. 

You should also make an effort to discuss some topics that your senior loved one is comfortable with. People of a certain generation may not be comfortable discussing the news of the day or controversial social topics. You can include them in the conversation by talking about old family holidays and fun memories of the past.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care in Miami Beach, FL please contact the caring staff at Specialized Nursing Services today. (305) 652-2799