It may not feel like it, but the holidays are just around the proverbial corner.
Our senior loved ones have seen more holidays than most of us. From where they sit, the 2020 holiday season is shaping up to be one of the most miserable they will see in their lives.
Considering that 8 out of 10 COVID-19 deaths in the US have been adults 65 years old and up, many American seniors have found themselves increasingly isolated at home as a safety measure, with only their caregivers for company.
The residents of assisted living communities may be better off with the healthy planned lifestyle for seniors they have going there, but not spending the holidays with their loved ones will still bring on bouts of loneliness.
However, with the country slowly reopening after the initial surge of COVID-19, people are now planning to spend time with their families—its elderly members included—for the holidays.
If you have senior loved ones and you’re one of those entertaining the thought of a holiday gathering for your family, here are some tips to protect elderly parents and grandparents celebrating the holidays in the time of COVID-19.
Limit Gathering Size
We all know how different the 2020 holiday season is going to be with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging. So, forget about having a large gathering of relatives for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas.
Keep holiday celebrations with your elderly loved one limited to the immediate members of the family. Fewer people pose a reduced risk of spread between attendees, as social distancing measures will be easier to enforce than if your entire clan is in attendance.
Opt For An Outdoor Venue
If your parents or grandparents live in a house with an outdoor space, it would be best to hold your holiday party there. An open-air venue poses a lesser risk of infection compared to an indoor gathering.
However, if you have no choice but to hold the gathering indoors, make sure there is sufficient ventilation. Throw open all windows and doors, if possible.
Author Melissa Andrews
It’s going to be an unusual holiday season, we’re going to have to be creative about how we celebrate with loved ones, yet all stay safe.
My MIL doesn’t have Alzheimers, but she is a shut-in. We are planning a small Thanksgiving gathering outdoors if the weather permits.
This is going to be such a different holiday season for so many of us.
Thank you for sharing these tips for seniors to keep them safe from Covid-19 during the holidays.
These are some great ideas. My circle is small so we never have parties and such. We’ll just keep it family only as we have been.
Great tips! And sooo needed!
Opting for outdoor celebrations is growing increasingly rare here in the fast-becoming-frozen north. So I really liked the tip of improving the ventilation. What great advice!
These are all wonderful tips, especially with the holidays right around the corner.
These are some really good tips to celebrate holidays with our senior relatives. WE won’t be doing that this year, sadly my MIL passed away from cancer this year and she’s the only one who really did any festivities like this. BUT we will do something here with our immediate fam which doesn’t include any elderly relatives. Things are different from region to region for families though, so I’m confident these tips will help everyone stay safe.
My brother-in-law decided not to host a big Thanksgiving this year, It just doesn’t feel safe. My mom was supposed to come back to New York this fall, but she’s going to be spending the winter with my sister because of COVID. Hopefully, next year we’ll be able to be together again.
Definitely a great tips that everyone must follow most especially if you have an elders or seniors living with you.
It’s such a sad year for all of us. However,we still should celebrate Christmas and just be sure to follow the safety standards.
It’s best to celebrate the Holidays indoors for us to be safe from COVID 19. The pandemic is still ongoing and we couldn’t risk our seniors. Thanks for sharing these tips.
We have already decided to spend the holidays at home and not with our extended family. We just have to sacrifice for now for the safety of everyone.
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I’m not sure what we are doing this Christmas. I’m hoping to see my elderly parents but I doubt it will be indoors.
This year is going to be difficult on so many levels. These are great tips to help with the loneliness. Though keeping and staying safe are key.
I agree with these safety tips. Gathering to an open area lessen the risk of being infected. The safest way to celebrate is to be inside our houses. Specially seniors are more prone to get infected. Still great tips!
I agree with these safety tips. Gathering to an open area lessen the risk of being infected. Still really the safest way to celebrate is to be inside our houses. Specially seniors are more prone to get infected. Still great tips!
These are some great tips. I’m sure it’s going to be a lot different this year for many of us. It’s hard on everyone, especially around the holidays. I hope we can all still enjoy it.
The reason why we move closer to our family is to be always present to family gathering. With this pandemic it would be interested how it will be looks like. Social distanncing andface mask is for sure will always be presents.
Awesome tips! I hope everyone will follow your advice during the holidays!
I don’t have any seniors to celebrate holidays with it. My mother in law is in India. Yes Covid makes everything scary.
I love these ideas! We all need to come together this year to protect the more vulnerable and accept that life isn’t going to be the same for a while.
We all need to be careful and responsible this year. It can be pretty scary for some folks.
Such care is essential for the elderly. If in this phase of life there are many limitations, with the pandemic it got even worse. That is why these recommendations presented in your article are important.
Thanks for sharing.