BrightStar Care®’s “Healthy for the Holidays” program ( http://www.brightstarcare.com/range-of-care/healthy-for-the-holidays ) was developed to place a special emphasis on the holiday season as a time when our aging loved ones are most vulnerable to infection and even depression.

1. Warding Off The Flu, Boosting Your Mood To Be
“Healthy For The Holidays”

2. BrightStar Care®’s “Healthy for the Holidays” program was
developed to place a special emphasis on the holiday season as a
time when our aging loved ones are most vulnerable to infection
and even depression. This is a time of year when many families
visit their aging loved ones, often seeing them face-to-face for the
first time months, perhaps an entire year.

3. That’s why families should be prepared to carefully watch for signs
of possible medical or emotional issues in senior loved ones
during holiday visits, be prepared with an arsenal of spirit-lifting
activities and develop a plan of action before heading home.

4. Arm yourself with some information and resources leading in to
holiday visits with loved ones. Here are some helpful articles:
1. Know what to look for. In this article, BrightStar Care resident
RN Sharon Roth Maguire shares that holidays are a prime
opportunity to not only observe for warning signs and offers
some key things to look out for. According to Roth Maguire,
“In many cases, these visits can be lifesaving.”

5. 2. Help loved ones ward off infection. The holiday season also
means the start of flu season and seniors are a vulnerable
population. In fact, for seniors, the flu doesn’t always just
mean discomfort, but can also potentially lead to more
serious complications like pneumonia and side effects
like delirium. The good thing about flu season is that there are
some things that everyone can do to help prevent the flu
and this helpful article offers some great flu prevention tips.

6. 3. Do something thoughtful to boost a senior’s spirit. According
to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 6.5 million
of the 35 million Americans aged 65 years or older are
affected by depression.

7. And although the holiday season is a typically a time of
celebration and joy, Roth Maguire points out “this time of
year can create a sense of nostalgia and melancholy amongst
the senior population .” Learn some things you can do to help
an aging loved one struggling with depression and
thoughtful ways to lift their spirits.

8. Learn more about how BrightStar Care can help through
our “Healthy for the Holidays” program. Families looking for
senior care help and support for a loved one in the comfort of
their home can turn to our BrightStar team for help.

9. Whether you’re caring for a loved one and need some respite or a
senior in your life has advancing needs and would be a good
candidate for home care and support, our team is available 24/7
to help you this holiday season and beyond by coming up with a
home care solution that is custom tailored to your loved one’s
needs.

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