The holiday season is upon us, and it is a time of the year for celebration, happiness, and gathering with family and friends.  Holidays can; however, become a very stressful or depressed time for many, especially older adults. Knowing the triggers of the holiday blues, being aware of the signs and symptoms of stress and depression, as well as using techniques to support the older adults in your life may help brighten the season.  This blog addresses older adult mental health during the holidays.

There are many triggers for stress and depression during November and December and we will discuss a few of them.  The loss of loved one can have quite an impact.  The loss could be recent, or it could have occurred many years ago.  The absence of a loved one during holidays prompts memories of prior festive gatherings, which can cause feelings of loneliness and sadness.  Some may even experience overwhelming grief which makes this time of the year dreadful.

Lack of finances might pose a concern.  Some older adults are on a fixed income which doesn’t allow for additional expenses such as purchasing many gifts.  Typically, as we grow older, the number of our family members grows as well.  Stress and worry can develop over not knowing how they will be able to participate in gift giving with everyone.  No one wants to feel inadequate or have to choose who to leave out.  This feeling can affect older adult mental health.

Preparing to celebrate may also be a trigger.  Feeling overwhelmed with decorating the home and preparing to host events can occur.  This is especially true if they have always hosted large gatherings and feel the need to continue with tradition.  They may no longer have the energy or resources required, but they don’t want to disappoint so they don’t ask for assistance.  This leads to additional stress and can alter older adult mental health by trying to figure out how to make it happen.

The signs and symptoms of stress and depression may look different in different individuals.  It’s important to recognize them to respond appropriately to older adult mental health concerns.  Some are vocal about how they are feeling while others may not say anything at all.  Objective signs are noticeable and include increased or decreased appetite, changes in sleep pattern, changes in mood or behavior such as irritability.  Subjective symptoms may not be observed, but they are still experienced.  This includes anxiety, nausea, sadness, fatigue, feelings of guilt or difficulty concentrating.

Try these approaches to tackle triggers:

1.  Acknowledge the loss of the loved one.  Lighting a candle in their memory, reminiscing with photos or mentioning them in a toast or prayer displays empathy.   It allows the person grieving to feel supported by those around them and lets them know that their loved one’s memory carries on.

2.  If finances are a concern, comment that the gift itself is more meaningful than the amount spent on the gift.  You can also consider doing Secret Santa gift exchange where only one gift needs to be purchased.  Turn the holiday into celebrating togetherness rather than gifts.

3.  Offer assistance for preparation.  This can include help with decorating or getting decorations out of storage.  You can offer to make food or propose to host the event.   Any amount of help will lessen stress for your loved one.

Support older adult mental health for your loved ones by predicting what may prompt stress and depression this holiday season.  Know what to look for and seek an evaluation by an experienced health care professional when necessary.  Offer and encourage the acceptance of your assistance while being sensitive to your loved one’s needs.  Be proactive and develop plans early to prevent the holiday blues, keeping the festivities merry and bright.    

If you are concerned about a loved one and need a professional nurse check in, please contact us.