A Time for Family, Togetherness and Accepting a Helping Hand

Mom’s house…the place where families gather for Thanksgiving and other chilly weather holidays…the place where the food is homemade and the scent of a baking pie is in the air…the place where we all feel at home.

Tradition is a powerful thing. For many families, gathering at Mom’s house for the holidays is a part of the season that we can’t fathom missing. Everything is made to perfection, memories flow through abundant conversation and we feel at peace.

As Mom gets older though, and certain struggles become particularly obvious during holiday preparations, that peace of mind can quickly vanish. Mom may be feisty, stubborn and independent, but perhaps this year it’s been harder for her to organize the menu, clean the house and not show signs of distress and anxiety.

Whether you are ‘Mom’ or a family member representing a younger generation, it can be difficult to recognize and accept the changes. Consider reassigning family duties to alleviate Mom’s stress during the holidays – and all year round.

Holidays can be a good time to observe aging parents with siblings and other family members, particularly with those that live out of town. If you are ‘Mom,’ this is a perfect opportunity to ask for help and reassign some of the tasks that that are becoming burdensome to you. Accepting physical or mental decline and the need for help can be the hardest part, but if family members are aware and proactive enough, the process can be smooth and gradual, eliminating significant life changes for everyone involved.

Not sure where to start? Involving a healthcare organization who specializes in geriatric care management is an effective way to get an unbiased assessment. Are these holiday struggles a sign of something bigger? Do I/does Mom need more assistance than I’m admitting to myself? What aspects of daily living do I/my loved ones really need help with?

An assessment is a simple on-site visit, completed by a care manager who reviews the current life care needs of the client and develops a plan of care with the client, the family and other significant caregivers.

The holidays can be a time for open communication and lending a helping hand. To learn more about Celtic Healthcare’s complimentary assessments, visit www.celtichealthcare.com or call 1-800-355-8894.