Tag: Holidays

New Holiday Traditions for New Times

Cheryl Greenberg, Ed.D. - The Age CoachLeave a comment

Fall is in the air. We are ready for pumpkin spices, sparkling holiday lights and enjoyable moments with families and friends, BUT

These are new times. Holidays this year will be different. After all, we all want to stay safe from COVID-10 and the flu.

So, how do we celebrate the holiday and still protect ourselves and our loved ones?

Here are some ideas to start your own creative ideas flowing.

Keep many of your familiar traditions.

  • Holiday meals with people who live with you

Plan favorite foods that bring back the sights and tastes of holidays past. The group may be smaller than last year, but the nostalgia will be the same.

  • Holiday decorations, cards and phone calls

Making homes special for a holiday and sharing greetings bring joy to holidays. Have you always had a jack-o-lantern or sent cards? Consider even more decorations, cards and calls this year to create holiday feelings and adjust for some of the distancing you may be feeling.

  • Gifts, food and flowers delivered to the door of loved ones

Doing for others is a special part of holidays. You can still share special treats; just stay at a distance.

  • In-person outdoor visits with people who are symptom free

Some people may choose to have time together, face to face. An outdoor heater and spiced tea will make this comfortable when the temperature drops. Of course, if choose to meet in person, be sure to wear masks, stay at least six feet apart, and wash often. Remember “Safety First!”

Create new traditions that fit today’s needs.

  • Holiday meals, decorating and sharing gift opening – at a distance, at the same time

Decide on a time to meet online and enjoy seeing each other celebrate.  Zoom, HouseParty and other digital platforms let you have dinner together, share holiday songs and candle lighting, and watch the delight of folks as they open gifts.

  • Holiday movies, concerts and travel

Invite your loved ones to download an online video of a favorite holiday movie, decorations from around the world or a holiday concert. Ask everyone to watch the program at the same time you do. Call during or after the show to chat about what you saw.

  • Sharing your favorite recipes or decorating tips

Use your phone or tablet to record you setting up a holiday display or baking special cookies. Send the video to your loved ones. Put  your phones on speaker mode and  talk them through the steps of the project while they try it out

What are your creative ideas for new traditions for new times? Sharing your ideas with others is, in itself, a way to enjoy the holidays this year.

For support during social distancing and more ideas for staying connected, join The Age Coach’s weekly online conversations. Contact TheAgeCoach@gmail.com for information.

Should Older Adults Write New Year’s Resolutions?

Cheryl Greenberg, Ed.D. - The Age CoachLeave a comment

When we were children, we couldn’t wait to stay up until the ball dropped in Times Square, the confetti was tossed, someone sang Auld Lang Syne … or whatever meant that we didn’t have to be in bed at the usual time.

As young adults, we looked for parties and threw the confetti ourselves. We were mature enough, we believed, to take on the world. We wrote New Year’s resolutions that we took seriously, for a couple of days at least.

And then in middle age, we may have been a bit more subdued, but noting the year and thinking about the future were still important for December 31.

So, what about older adults? Have they seen it all? Are they “over” celebrating? Should they have a special early afternoon party and plan to be in bed at the usual pre-midnight time?

I suggest, rather emphatically, no!

As long as older adults are physically and cognitively healthy, celebrating and writing resolutions can still have real meaning for them. Planning new activities, engagement with family and friends, volunteering or working, refurnishing their houses or moving to new communities . . . new life adventures . . . may be some of their resolutions for the new year.

As C. S. Lewis wrote

http://www.agingbutdangerous.com/humor/new-years-quotes/

Are you an older adult? Do you live with or care for an older adult?

I invite you to take time to celebrate the new year and write your resolutions for 2019!

If you would like suggestions for New Year’s Eve celebrations and making resolutions, look at New Year’s Eve & Resolutions (Home Care Assistance) and New Year’s Eve Party Ideas (Medicare).

Celebrating Holidays When a Loved One Has a Dementia

Cheryl Greenberg, Ed.D. - The Age CoachLeave a comment

The winter holidays are here! Thanksgiving with turkey and the trimmings, conversation, football on TV, and family games. Kwanza, Christmas and Chanukah are next. What warm memories of these celebrations many of us have and how much we would like to participate in all our usual traditions.

But . . .

We are caring for a loved one who has a dementia. Everyone is adjusting to new ways of living our daily lives. We don’t have energy for all our usual preparations. And some of the old traditions aren’t appropriate for a person who has a dementia.

How can we have our special holidays? Here are a few quick tips.

  • Adjust your celebrations.
    • Modify and simplify your traditions, keeping some of the special memories.
    • Involve your loved one in holiday activities that are comfortable and safe for him or her.
  • Communicate with family and friends.
    • Talk about your loved one’s strengths and changes.
    • Plan new traditions together.
  • Take care of yourself.
    • Ask for help with holiday tasks and caring for your loved one.
    • Arrange for respite time . . . quiet time, pampering, exercise . . . for you.

Holidays can still be special for you, your family and friends.

Enjoy the possible. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy new traditions.

For more about holiday celebrations, read the National Institute on Aging article, “Holiday Hints for Alzheimer’s Caregivers” at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/holiday-hints-alzheimers-caregivers.