Vitalia Active Adult Community – Solon 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!

The holiday season comes with its own set of stressors and expectations, both internally and externally. Some common causes of depression during the holiday season are lack of time, financial pressure, and gift giving. The signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress are loss of appetite, withdrawal, giving away precious items that are dear to the person, sudden weight loss, and malnutrition.

We can help eliminate the holiday blues for our residents by celebrating, having more activities, and additional one-on-one time. Loneliness is one of the most common causes of depression in the elderly during the holiday season. To combat this, we can make sure we acknowledge the presence of that resident every day. We can also enjoy a meal with the residents and help them reflect on joyous moments.

We encourage new and fulfilling traditions. We could dress up for Christmas and give out gifts dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus.

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 Vitalia Active Adult Community – Solon hope some of these ideas will be helpful as the holidays approach.