Christmas is a busy time of year associated with celebrating and enjoying the festivities with friends and family. However many elderly people can feel alone at Christmas, Age UK estimates that half a million older people in the UK expect to feel lonely this Christmas. To help ensure that our elderly population are looked after over the festive season, we’ve put together some tips….
Giving an elderly person company
For those who want to join in the festivities, simply having company can be the best thing. Being able to have a chat on Christmas day and enjoy the fun can bring lots of Christmas cheer. Community Christmas believes ‘No one should be alone at Christmas if they don’t want to be’ and offers a search facility on their website that allows you to find events and Christmas lunches that are happening near to you on Christmas day.
Keeping well and healthy
Being regularly visited by family, friends, or a carer, ensures that the health of an elderly member of the population can be kept in check. Visitors should ensure the elderly person they visit are warm enough, even offer to fill a hot water bottle, and the risks of draughts/frozen pipes are minimised.
It’s also important to ensure that older people are eating the right food and are getting enough iron and proteins to stay well and healthy.
Planning for hazardous weather
As the holidays begin, carers and visitors who care for the elderly should provision for any expected cold or icy weather by spreading salt to avoid slippery paths which could lead to injury.
Keeping updated about your elderly relative’s care over the Christmas period is important for those families who use Carers to look after their loved ones. With CareLineLive’s Family & Friends website, family can access visit schedules, know which carer is coming, what time, for how long and view a visit’s confirmation – providing peace of mind 24/7!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all at CareLineLive!
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