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The holiday season is filled with comfort and joy for many people, but it’s often when seniors have feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Between the crowded stores, harsh winter weather and the fact nearly 30% of older adults over 65 live alone, it’s difficult to find meaningful social opportunities during the holidays.
This can be especially dangerous for older adults, because research has shown feelings of loneliness and social isolation can have negative effects on their physical and mental health, including higher risk of developing dementia, increased feelings of depression and anxiety, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.
The most important thing to remember about loneliness and social isolation is that they’re feelings and not facts. Look at these simple ways you can feel connected to your loved ones and your community for a happy and healthy holiday season.
The Holidays Are a Great Time to Volunteer
When you’re used to a busy kitchen, crowded living room and family sitting elbow-to-elbow around a dining room table, your home can feel empty during the holidays, even when you’ve downsized.
Whether you want to volunteer at your local food bank or just bring a neighbor a hot cup of coffee on a wintry day, even the smallest acts of kindness are a wonderful way to take your mind off negative feelings during the holidays. It’s also a great way to broaden your social connections, make new friends and try new things.
Not only can volunteering help prevent loneliness and social isolation, it also comes with several other benefits, like improved life satisfaction, increased self-esteem, reduced symptoms of depression and lower stress levels.
Here are some more ways you can dedicate your time to a greater cause:
AmeriCorps Seniors. AmeriCorps matches more than 170,000 senior volunteers with opportunities like becoming a foster grandparent, providing companionship to other seniors, tutoring and mentoring youth, and supporting veterans.
The Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s Association volunteers can support, raise funds and advocate for Alzheimer’s disease in person or virtually. Opportunities range anywhere from becoming a community educator to tech support and data entry.
Feeding America. More than half of all food programs in the U.S. rely completely on volunteers. You can help fight food insecurity with Feeding America by volunteering at a local food bank, delivering meals or fundraising virtually.
Senior living communities offer convenient volunteer opportunities for residents year-round, so make sure you check your community calendar and ask other residents if they know of any ways you can volunteer this holiday season.
Stay Connected with Long-Distance Loved Ones
Many older adults have friends and family members that live far away, which can make it difficult to gather for the holidays. Although nothing can replace spending time in person with your loved ones, there are still ways you can feel close this season and reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Here are some tips on how to celebrate the holidays with long-distance family members:
Use technology. Learning how to use your phone, tablet or computer to make video calls will help you stay connected to your loved ones all year, but holidays are a great time to reach out to everyone. Try to schedule video calls with not only close friends and family, but loved ones you may have lost touch with over the years. You can also attend virtual holiday events and worship services.
Stay flexible. The holidays can be hectic for many people, especially young families. Staying flexible and scheduling phone or video calls that are convenient for you and the other person is the best way to have a relaxed and meaningful conversation.
Send a holiday card. The time-honored tradition of sending holidays cards is still alive and well. Craft your way into the season by creating personalized, handmade cards for friends, family, caregivers and anyone else in between, because being creative can reduce feelings of loneliness, depression and stress.
Many senior living communities feature abundant ways to help you stay connected. For instance, you can sign up for a lifelong learning course that focuses on how to use your smartphone and useful applications, and creative arts centers are the perfect place to make your holiday cards without making a mess in your residence. Plus, you’re likely to find other residents looking for ways to connect with their loved ones and make a new friend.
Experience the Benefits of Expressing Gratitude
Whether you’re spending time on the phone, online or in person, take time to enjoy the moment and express gratitude. Positive psychology research has shown expressing gratitude regularly is strongly associated with improved happiness, which includes feeling more positive emotions, having more appreciation of pleasant experiences, improving the quality of relationships and improving overall mental health.
The best part is that you can experience these benefits with big and small acts of gratitude.
These are some ways to cultivate gratitude during the holidays:
Write a thank-you note. Did you have a lovely phone call with a family member, enjoy a holiday party at a neighbor’s house, or want to show your appreciation for a caregiver? Write a thank-you note. Research has shown thank-you notes have a positive mental impact for both the letter-writer and receiver.
Meditate. Though many people meditate to find peace, you can also focus on what you’re grateful for, like holiday traditions, beautiful winter weather, having a warm home or even something as simple as your favorite cozy sweater.
Keep a gratitude journal. If you’re looking for something to add to your holiday wish list or want to treat yourself with a gift, consider a gratitude journal. Not only will you receive the mental health benefits of practicing gratitude, you might get a little extra sleep. A study published by Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being found those who wrote a few grateful sentiments before bed slept better and longer.
Be there and listen. The holidays are a tough time for many older adults. Take the time to listen to how your friends and neighbors are feeling and don’t be afraid to share your own emotions. You don’t need to offer specific advice or solve any issues. Just be present, listen and express how grateful you are to have them in your life.
Unwrap a New Retirement Lifestyle at a Senior Living Community
From programs that prioritize mental and physical health to convenient social opportunities, senior living communities help you thrive through retirement. Whether you’re ready to unwrap a more enriched lifestyle or want a peek into your options, Where You Live Matters is here to help you start your next chapter with our community locator tool and free guide on senior living.
Where You Live Matters is powered by the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), a respected voice in the senior housing industry. ASHA primarily focuses on legislative and regulatory advocacy, research, and educational opportunities and networking for senior living executives, so they can better understand the needs of older adults across the country.
