The Holidays and Assisted Living: Why They Go Together Like Gingerbread Cookies and Eggnog

December 13, 2023 by ·

The Holidays and Assisted Living: Why They Go Together Like Gingerbread Cookies and Eggnog

Okay, if you’re one of those people who don’t like gingerbread cookies or eggnog during the holiday season, you get a pass. For the rest of us, there is something special about sharing a sweet treat and a thick, nutmeg sweetened drink with family and friends during the holiday season, especially near a roaring fire on a cold, crisp night. If you’re trying to figure out how gingerbread cookies and eggnog have anything to do with assisted living, pay attention.

Assisted Living: Holiday Respite Spanish Fort, AL

Assisted Living: Holiday Respite Spanish Fort, AL

Relieve Holiday Stress & Enjoy Family Time with Assisted Living

It’s the holiday season, and for many family caregivers, it’s a time of immense joy mixed with overwhelming stress. Between juggling work, family, and the additional responsibilities of caregiving, it’s easy to feel burnt out.

Why Holidays Are Challenging for Family Caregivers

During the holidays, many family caregivers—the ones who are taking care of most of the aging seniors and disabled adults in the United States right now—are overwhelmed. They are trying to do everything. They are taking care of growing teenagers, focusing on their career, dealing with the hustle and bustle of shopping for those end of the year holidays, and so much more.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed. It’s easy to reach a point when you just don’t think you can handle anything more. Family caregivers may struggle to:

  • Balance caregiving duties with other commitments.
  • Manage holiday shopping, cooking, and decorations.
  • Find time for personal relaxation and rejuvenation.

How Assisted Living Provides the Perfect Solution

This is where assisted living can offer the perfect solution. Don’t just assume that assisted living is for full time, permanent care. Depending on the facility, they may offer what is commonly referred to as respite care services. This refers to short-term stays, which could be perfect for the end of the year holidays.

Many family caregivers can get a much-needed break, allowing them to focus on other family, friends, to travel, visit with loved ones across the country or around the world, and not have to be constantly worried about their aging mother or father, grandparent, spouse, or other loved one who is struggling with activities of daily life.With short-term respite care options, family caregivers can:

  • Get a much-needed break from their caregiving responsibilities.
  • Focus on other family members and friends.
  • Travel, visit loved ones, or pursue personal interests.

Short-Term Stays Offer Relief & Flexibility

Respite care allows seniors to enjoy a safe and enriching environment while their families recharge. They can:

  • Participate in festive activities and social events.
  • Make new friends and reconnect with old ones.
  • Receive personalized care and assistance with daily activities.

Discover Respite Care Services for Seniors

The best place to start is at a local assisted living community. Find out if they offer respite care options. Not all assisted living facilities or other elder care options will have availability for such things.

But a quality assisted living community that does offer respite care will likely only have limited space available over the holiday season. That’s why now is the time to look into respite care services.

Even if you wait too long, there may be options, including being able to drop your loved one off in the evening where they spend time making friends, perhaps reconnecting with old friends, participating in activities, enjoying some entertainment, and then sleeping in a safe environment. Then you can pick them up in the morning and bring them back home.

When is it too late to look into respite care at assisted living?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, so even if it’s a week from Christmas or your holiday vacation, contact some local communities and find out about availability. They might have at least a few days availability so it can be safe while you spent some time recovering, recuperating, and enjoying these end of the year holidays.

And even though you may not be a fan of gingerbread cookies or eggnog, hopefully you have come to realize that when it comes to the holidays and assisted living, the two can be a great complement for one another, providing you, the family caregiver, the best opportunity to relax, unwind, and enjoy this time of the year.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility near Spanish Fort, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Respite Care ·
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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