As the weather starts to cool down and the daylight hours become shorter, it’s important that we think of seniors during the changing of the seasons. Seniors can feel isolated and lonely during the winter months, which is why preparing activities for them in advance can be incredibly helpful to make sure they don’t feel the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The elderly are more at risk of developing Seasonal Affective Disorder as they spend most of their time during the winter indoors, inactive, and away from sunlight.
4 ways to warm up the winter for seniors:
1. Stay active
Staying active during the winter might seem like a difficult task for a senior as they cannot go outside due to the extreme weather, but there are plenty of exercises that you can do with your client right in the comfort of their own home. Stretching, walking in place, and even dancing are great ways to keep your client healthy and active. Making the exercises part of their routine can boost your client’s mood and also help with coordination.
2. Video Chat days with friends and family
Designate a day of the week that your client video calls a friend or family member. Having this day of the week planned in advance will give your client something to look forward to and will keep them feeling social. There are plenty of free web chatting services for you to choose from: Skype, Zoom, and Google are just three examples of free services to utilize.
3. Cooking
Cooking with your client is a great way to bond with them and stimulate their brain. From reading recipes to setting timers or even stirring in ingredients, these are all ways that will keep your client mentally active and make them feel involved in the process of something. To help with memory retention, have your client teach you a family recipe that has been passed down from generations. This is a great way to get them to recall precious memories and recreate something beloved to them.
4. Cold weather crafts
Knitting, crocheting, and quilting are all great cold weather crafts that you can do with your client. You can also make crafts to donate to charitable causes, for example having your client crochet or knit hats to donate to local homeless shelters or hospitals. They can also make crafts for their friends or family members during the holiday season. Finding the time to incorporate any of these 4 tips into your routine will help boost your client’s mood and make the transition into the winter months much easier for them.
Importance of Companionship
Sometimes helping combat Seasonal Affective Disorder is as simple as making sure your elderly loved ones have a companion to speak to and spend time with. We also understand that life gets in the way, and you are not always able to spend time with your loved ones. This is why Home Health Aides are so helpful. Preferred Gold is an industry-leading home care service provider dedicated to ensuring our clients receive the highest level of care available. It is our mission to enhance the quality of life and overall independence of our clients. Contact us today to learn more.