Difficult Senior Care: Helping Your Loved Ones Cope with Loss during the Holiday Season
Senior Care in Herndon VA
Coping with the loss of a loved one is something that most family caregivers will have to deal with during their senior care journey. This can be particularly challenging during the holiday season
when you are trying to focus on the fun and joy that the holidays bring, but are also constantly reminded of the person that you used to spend this wonderful time with but you no longer have with you. If your senior is facing the loss of a loved one this holiday season, whether it is a partner, a friend, a neighbor, a sibling, or even a child, it is important that you do what you can to help her through it so that you can preserve her mental and emotional health, guard her physical wellbeing, and help her to still see the holiday season for the joyous time that it can be even when working through the feelings of grief and loss.
Use these tips to help your senior loved ones cope with loss during the holiday season:
• Do not ignore him. It may seem like mentioning the name of the person who has died will make the painful emotions worse or send your senior into a period of sadness and depression if she is doing fairly well. The truth is, however, that ignoring the person can create a sense of emptiness and may encourage your parent to hide her grief and pain, worsening it and putting her at higher risk of emotional, cognitive, and physical consequences. Do not avoid mentioning wonderful memories that you have of the person or bringing out items that remind you of him. Make him a natural and normal part of the holiday season just as he always has been.
• Embrace the emotions. Simply because you have joyous memories about a person you have lost does not mean that you are always going to feel happy when thinking about them. Embrace the fact that you and your seniors are going to feel pain and sadness during this time, and give everyone permission to not only feel, but to express, these emotions wholly and honestly. This does not mean go overboard or become despondent, but it does mean that you should accept that it is alright to cry or to need a few moments to yourself when thinking about that person.
• Honor him. Find meaningful ways to keep the person’s spirit alive throughout your holiday celebrations and continue to make him a part of your traditions by honoring his memory through meaningful activities and symbolic gestures. For example, if he was always the one who put the star up on the top of the tree, let his son or grandson take over, or “retire” that star and put it in a place of honor in the home. Give the gift of a memorial ornament to hang on the tree, or light a special candle during your celebrations. Even small gestures can help your parent feel more connected to the person who she lost and guide her through a healthy and meaningful course of expression of her emotions.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care services in Herndon, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. 703-273-8818
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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