In Home Caregiver Tips for Senior Stress Management During the Holidays

Home Care Blog>In Home Care  |  December 19, 2017

Caregiver Tips for Senior Stress Management

Tips for Senior Stress Management | The holiday season should be centered on quality family time, sharing delicious meals together, and relaxing; families should make every effort to manage stress during this time of year. If you’re in search of some ideas on how to reduce holiday stress, especially among your senior loved ones, consider the following in home caregiver recommendations:

Maintain Your Regular Routine

Often times, the holidays throw us off of our regular eating, sleeping, and exercise routines. When this happens, seniors may experience weakness, which may result in stress and anxiety. By maintaining a healthy routine, your elderly loved ones can avoid negative feelings and stay relaxed despite everything that is going on.

Focus on What You’re Grateful For

Seniors can get more depressed than usual during the holidays but it helps to focus on practicing gratitude. The winter weather can increase a senior’s aches and pains and make them even more aware of having limited mobility. An in home caregiver can help seniors who have physical challenges with housework, getting out shopping, and other activities to make it easier for them to be grateful for what they can do instead of focusing on things they can’t do.

Express Yourself to a Trustworthy Family Member or Friend

Holding negative thoughts inside can cause your stress levels to skyrocket. Therefore, seniors should connect with a family member or close friend and share thoughts and feelings with them. Opening up to another person in a calm and rational manner can help lower stress levels among older adults.

Stay Active

One of the best ways to manage stress during the holidays is to stay active. Encourage or join your senior loved one for a trip to the local gym or community center or join a group fitness class. Staying active can boost your levels of endorphins, which are chemicals that promote feelings of joy and happiness. Seniors who have trouble staying active because of the cold or snowy weather can get the exercise they need with the help of an in home caregiver.

Set Time for Yourself

With so much going on during the season, you may find that you don’t have any time for yourself. Taking time for yourself, even if it’s only a few minutes, can give you the opportunity to breathe and clear your mind. You can listen to your favorite song, get a massage, or participate in a hobby that makes you happy.

Set A Spending Budget

Spending can easily get out of control during the holiday season. Buying food and gifts can hinder your bank account and lead to financial stress. To prevent this type of stress, review your financial situation and decide on a realistic budget for gifts, food, and other miscellaneous holiday expenses. Sticking to this budget can keep you out of debt.

You and your elderly loved ones can enjoy a happier, less stressful holiday season by maintaining a regular routine, staying active and sticking to a holiday spending budget.

Comfort Keepers^® Calgary Can Help

At Comfort Keepers^®, we create individual care plans for every client. These plans include wellness goals that consider physical, mental and emotional health. Our caregivers can help support physician-prescribed diet and exercise plans, provide medication reminders, provide transportation to appointments and help seniors engage in the activities they love the most. And, our caregivers can help senior stay connected with loved ones through video chats, phone calls and care updates. We believe that every senior should experience the best in life.

Contact the Comfort Keepers Calgary office to learn more about how we can help maintain safety, comfort, and happiness in the home.

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