WOW: Ten Commandments for Celebrating Successfully

1. Embrace Holiday Essence

It’s astonishing how detached we have become from the meaning of our celebrations. We tend to both blame and allow ourselves to be controlled by forces such as commercial trends. It’s good to remind seniors what’s being celebrated.

2. Exercise Choice

It’s not always necessary or practical to celebrate the same way. It may be tradition to gather at one home, but a family can change how the holiday is observed. Encourage seniors to buy into the change by enlisting their help.

3. Exercise Imagination

Who says you have to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah on the actual day? Sometimes you can have more latitude in the celebration by being creative and scheduling your observance at a different time. Just make sure the senior is on board.

4. Be Pro-Active

Seniors can become depressed when they feel family members and events are not living up to their expectations. Families can minimize disappointment by being pro-active, planning for the holidays well in advance and communicating with all family members.

5. Adjust Expectations

One of the greatest attributes of people, who do well as they age, is adaptability. It may not be practical to assemble the entire family for the holidays anymore. Help seniors adjust their expectations.

6. Be Present

Everybody lives a little in the past, but don’t try to recreate it. Honour the people who are not with you anymore by putting out photos or sharing stories, and celebrate the people who are still with you.

7. Practice Altruism

Remind seniors that there are always others in more difficult circumstances. Many seniors volunteer at the holidays. If a senior isn’t able to be that active, suggest they buy or make gifts to send to soldiers or develop a list of shut-ins to telephone and encourage.

8. Focus on Relationships

Help seniors view the holidays as a chance to get to know others -- like grandchildren and in-laws -- better. It will also provide seniors a chance to talk about the past in a positive way.

9. Have Patience

For the most part, change occurs with two steps forward and one step back. Be patient. It’s difficult to change behaviour, especially behaviour rooted in our personalities as well as our personal and family histories.

10. Help!

Get buy-in and support from family members to help change patterns that are contributing to the holiday blues.

(Information from Seniorcare Connections, Home Instead Senior Care)

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