Tips to Help Seniors Fight Post Holiday Depression

Homecare in East Hampton

When the holidays are over, seniors can experience a bout of depression. During the holidays, seniors may have a lot of social interaction with family and friends that they don’t get to see often. Seniors who are aging may have enjoyed hosting holiday parties, or attending them. But when the social part of the holidays is over, seniors can experience feelings of sadness and loneliness, because their family and friends return to their busy lives and don’t have as much time to visit or chat. Depression can become a serious problem for seniors, but there are some things seniors can do to help fight those post-holiday blues, like:

Homecare

Seniors who don’t have family and friends close by, or whose family and friends can’t visit as much as they want because of jobs, families, and other obligations, can benefit from homecare. With homecare, seniors aren’t alone. They have a trusted friend who is there with them each day to provide friendship, conversation, and support. They also have a companion who will go places with them, help them get to appointments, and help them with things like running errands. With homecare, seniors won’t be lonely at home.

Volunteer

Seniors can also get the social interaction they want by volunteering. No matter what interests or skills your senior has, there is an organization that fits those interests and skills that could use volunteers. Seniors can help teach valuable life skills while also helping others. From walking dogs or petting kittens at an animal shelter to volunteering to help kids with homework, there are many volunteer opportunities for seniors in their communities.

Visit The Senior Center

Your senior parent may also benefit from joining the local senior center. Most communities have some type of senior center where seniors can gather. Usually senior centers offer exercise classes, places where seniors can get together over coffee or tea and have conversations, movie and book clubs, craft groups, art groups, special classes, prayer groups, and more. Senior centers give seniors the chance to make new friends who have similar experiences and are going through the same issues. They can provide support and friendship, and build the social connections that are so important for a senior’s good mental health.

Try A New Hobby 

Hobbies are wonderful ways for seniors to keep busy and find a sense of purpose. Everyone needs a sense of purpose to feel fulfilled, but many seniors lose their sense of purpose when they retire. Seniors who have no family close by and are retired may feel lost without a sense of purpose that gets them up and moving in the morning. Trying a new hobby they have always wanted to try can motivate seniors to get out of the house and stay busy. Seniors searching for a new hobby, but haven’t found the right one yet, may want to try some continuing education classes where they can try new things like woodworking, pottery, or art.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Homecare in East Hampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.