The holidays are time of family, fun and festivities for most, but for many seniors this season can be a stressful and lonely time; the staff at a leading NYC nursing home offers five tips for helping senior citizens enjoy the season.
NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Regardless of which holiday families celebrate, December can be a challenging and lonely time for senior citizens. Gold Crest Care Center, a leading Bronx Nursing Home, understands the difficulties this population experiences during these months and urges families and loved ones to learn how to make the holiday season less stressful and more enjoyable for senior citizens. The facility's board of physicians and counselors has compiled a list of five tips for helping the elderly through the season. To learn more, visit GoldCrestCC.com to speak with a counselor today.
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Five Tips For Helping Seniors Through The Holiday Season:
- Reminisce and Remember: The holidays are a time for memories. For seniors struggling with cognitive and memory-based illnesses, this can be nearly impossible. Families can help the elderly enjoy this crucial part of the holiday experience by sharing stories, asking questions and looking through old family photographs. Even if the activity fails to jog a loved one's memory, the experience will provide the comfort everyone seeks during this season.
- Plan Ahead: Whether a family decides to take their loved one out of the NYC nursing home for the day or visit them within the facility, it is imperative to spend time planning in advance. Make the appropriate requests ahead of time. Inform all parties involved and leave extra time for any unexpected delays.
- Make New Memories: Assess where a loved one is in terms of mobility and the ability to participate in activities. Use this assessment to create new traditions that directly involve these seniors. The creation of new memories will reduce the likelihood of loneliness and give seniors the chance to participate in events that might otherwise seem out of reach.
- Include Seniors When Possible: Families often overlook the emotional consequences of being excluded from holiday preparations and festivities. Too often, families assume an elderly loved one is unable to assist and opt to do the job themselves. Find activities or preparations the elderly family member can help with and go out of your way to include them in preparations.
- Reach Out Regardless of Location: Combat the risk of loneliness and depression by urging distant family members and family friends to reach out via phone or mail.
Regardless of a family's traditions or belief systems, the holidays are rarely what they used to be for senior citizens. NYC nursing home personnel see the physical and emotional stressors December brings every year. Whether seniors are struggling with isolation or loneliness or suffer from health impairments that result in overstimulation throughout the holiday, now is the time to be cognizant of how seniors need help in enjoying the holiday.
For more information on Gold Crest Care Center's facilities and holiday activities, or to schedule a tour, please call 718.882.6400 or visit the company's website at www.goldcrestcc.com. Gold Crest Care Center can also be found on Facebook at facebook.com/GoldCrestCareCenter.
Media Contact:
Mark Salamon
LNHA Gold Crest Care Center
2316 Bruner Ave
Bronx, NY 10469
Phone: (718) 882-6400 x 217
Fax: (718) 228-2511