Holidays Bring Loneliness to the Forefront for Families of Seniors

So, it’s time again for holiday plans. But every time family members have invited Uncle Ed, he flatly refuses to attend any celebrations. You know he spends much of his time alone and are worried. Now before you just jump the gun and just decide that Uncle Ed is a big grump, consider the following reasons why Uncle Ed isn’t exactly in a Easter-egg-hunting  kind of mood:

• Does he wear a hearing aid? For those with hearing impairments, being around a large group of people is not only confusing but also embarrassing and frustrating. Depending on the severity of his hearing loss, Uncle Ed might prefer to only focus on one mouth in the room or at the dining room table. And he might fear hurting other people’s feelings if he accidentally leaves them out of conversations.
• Will the holiday party include lots of children? Here’s a little secret about seniors. Many seniors don’t find any enjoyment in watching kids chase each other and squeal at the top of their lungs. Uncle Ed might prefer some peace and quiet.
• Some medications can cause symptoms of depression, so he might actually struggle emotionally to spend half the day around a bunch of rowdy, loud people in happy moods.
• As seniors age, stomach trouble can become an issue. Some seniors can’t chew all types of food well because of sensitive teeth or loose dentures. Others struggle with digestion. Uncle Ed might not want to be visiting someone else’s home if his stomach gets upset.
• Has Uncle Ed experienced a recent lost? Maybe a good friend or his little dog passed away?
• Could it be possible that he thinks he will be expected to bring gifts or food along? So he ducks out to avoid embarrassment?

The point is to stop simply assuming that Uncle Ed hates holidays as well as all the people in the family and actually WANTS to be alone. Do some gentle prodding to see if you can discover why he doesn’t want to join in on the family gatherings. If he continues to say he’d rather not attend, let it go. Offer to deliver a couple of plates of goodies for him to warm up for supper and enjoy in front of the TV.

While you are making the delivery, stop to chat. You may discover that Uncle Ed talks your ear off or says very little. Both are signs of isolation and loneliness. You may not be able to talk with Uncle Ed every day, but the Care Callers at Keeping in Touch Solutions can – and will – every day.

A daily check-in call could be the lifeline, the joy you give someone that makes the biggest difference in their perception of what old age is like.

Contact me at 317-480-1038 today. Let’s make a difference together.

I’m Diana Beam, Founder of Keeping in Touch Solutions. It is my heartfelt desire for every person to live a happy and healthy life in the place they call home, no matter what their age. You can’t put a price on peace of mind for your parents and yourself. It’s priceless . . . and significant.

For that reason, the goal of every Keeping In Touch Solutions program is to provide a caring connection and service that both the elderly and their caregivers can rely on to make living that good life easier.