Boosting Your Senior’s Mental and Emotional Health Through Volunteering During the Holidays

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The holiday blues are not just something that people sing about during this time of year. Many people suffer depression, sadness, isolation, loneliness, and other mental and emotional health issues during this time of year. This can be because they are not able to see their friends and family, feel isolated from the world around them, are remembering lost loved ones, and other reasons.

Caregiver Essex County NJ - Boosting Your Senior's Mental and Emotional Health Through Volunteering During the Holidays

Caregiver Essex County NJ – Boosting Your Senior’s Mental and Emotional Health Through Volunteering During the Holidays

For a senior adult, they might suffer from these feeling because their challenges and limitations make it so that they are not able to participate in the holidays as much as they could, or they are dealing with a sense of no longer being as relevant as they used to be. As their caregiver, finding ways to boost your parent’s mental and emotional health during this time is an important step toward encouraging them to enjoy the holiday season more and maintain a higher quality of life.

There are many ways that you can boost your parent’s health and well-being throughout the holiday season, but one that can be particularly meaningful and beneficial is volunteering. Getting out into the community and volunteering is a way for your parent to feel that they are making a positive contribution to the world around them, that they are valuable and important, and that they can still make a difference. It also gives them more social interaction, which stimulates the mind and supports better mental and emotional health.

When considering volunteer opportunities that your parent can participate in, make sure that you keep in mind their challenges and limitations. Select opportunities that are accessible to them and that they will be able to enjoy and handle effectively while staying safe and healthy. Food banks, gift charities, schools, and animal shelters often need additional hands during this time. Contact local charities and discuss your parent’s abilities and allow them to help you find the opportunity that will be meaningful and beneficial for both of you.

Being a family caregiver for an elderly adult is challenging. This is especially true if you are a member of the sandwich generation also caring for children, or you live at a distance from your senior. You may feel as though you are not able to give your parent the care that they need, or that your efforts have caused a tremendous amount of stress that is diminishing your quality of life and the care that you give them. You may notice this even more during the holiday season.

Fortunately, home care can help. Having a caregiver provider with your parent ensures that they are always getting the care that they need, both when you are with them and when you are not. This not only fulfills their personal needs, but also supports a more active, engaged, independent, and meaningful lifestyle as they age in place.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Caregiver Services in Essex County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP
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