Connecting With Your Elderly Parents at the Holidays

Connecting at the Holidays

The holidays are a time for connecting with our families, with our traditions, and with what makes our lives meaningful.  How can we make this precious time a fulfilling opportunity rather than a stressful rush? As usual, a client provided me with insight and inspiration!

Today I helped a client prepare her holiday cards.  This 93-year-old has traveled and lived all over the world, and has a wide circle of friends and experiences.  Holiday cards are a way to keep her connected with her social network.

This year she had the very clever idea of using unused postcards to send out as holiday cards.  It is very practical solution for someone with macular degeneration since it removes the stress of writing a long letter.  She composed a brief – and very clever – message, which I printed on labels and attached to the cards.

The process of preparing the cards was magical. She called it a “trip down memory lane” as she remembered all the places she had been and chose an appropriate card for each recipient.  I learned more about where she had traveled and gained a deeper understanding about the people in her life.

I have a brand new appreciation for the connection that these rituals can provide. If we are creative, appreciative, and set aside the time to enjoy the simple acts of being together, it is easier to remember what the holidays are really about.

For more articles like this, see:  Care for the Caregiver, Long Distance Caregiving, Communicating with Senior Citizens, Hearts at Work.

Know someone who worries about their elderly parent in Charlottesville, Staunton, or Harrisonburg Virginia? Care is There Geriatric Care Management can help! Have them contact me, Elizabeth, for a free consultation: 434.326.5323ext 2 or Elizabeth@careisthere.com.

For more information about our services, and to read testimonials from our clients, visit our website. Also, view this short video about our care management services.

Elizabeth Swider, Certified Senior Advisor and Certified Aging in Place Specialist
President, Care is There Geriatric Care Management
Support for independent living and long distance caregiving; assisted living enhancement.