Hudson Grande Senior Living Prepares for Possible Holiday Blues

For many the holiday season is a joyful, happy time built around togetherness, family, and friends, but for some it can be very stressful and filled with overwhelming expectations, depression, and anxiety. The holiday season can be a reminder of those who are not with us anymore, financial limitations, sadness from being separated from loved ones, and the loss of treasured traditions. Celebrating this time of year doesn’t have to be a sad or overwhelming time. It can be a peaceful time of reminiscing, volunteering, spending time with friends, and creating new traditions!

Some common causes of depression during the holiday season are changes in the amount of daylight, pressures of obligatory travel, financial stressors, and loneliness. Signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress we should monitor for during the holiday season include isolation, tiredness, lack of energy, change of sleep patterns, and change in appetite.

Loneliness is one of the most common causes of depression in the elderly during the holiday season. It is important we listen with sympathy, offer solace, and stand in the gap where the families may not be able to be present. We can help eliminate the holiday blues for our residents by making our 45 Days of Holiday Cheer the best.

Hudson Grande continues with door decorating traditions, tree decorating, and a brunch with Santa every year. It is important that we are consistent in the community; the residents look forward to our community traditions each year.

The holiday season means different things to each of us. The holidays are about family, friends, food, and tradition. For many, the smells, taste, and decorations bring memories flooding back. We at Hudson Grande Senior Living hope some of these ideas will be helpful as the holidays approach.