During the winter months, many people get quite depressed. If the depression only arises during these months, it is usually referred to as the winter blues. If your elderly loved one is feeling down, sad, or depressed in the winter, there are ways that you and home care providers can help them to feel a bit better.
Add Brightness to Their Environment
One of the reasons why many people suffer from the winter blues is because their surrounding is more dark and dreary than it is in the warmer months. If you or a home care provider goes into your elderly loved one’s home and realize it is quite dark, you should add more brightness to their environment. Natural light would work best. You can accomplish this by opening up blinds and curtains. If you can’t get enough light into your elderly loved one’s home that way, you should add calm lighting throughout the home. There are many lightbulbs that can somewhat mimic natural light.
Balanced Diet
Another way that you and home care providers can help your elderly loved one if they have the winter blues is by making sure they eat a balanced diet. Research shows there are certain foods that boost energy and mood. These foods are filled with vitamins, proteins, minerals, and other healthy things. Some of the best foods for this purpose include fruits and vegetables.
Keeping Active
It would also be a great idea to make sure your elderly loved one is keeping active. If they just sit around most of the time, they are going to feel even more depressed than if they were to get up and move more. You may even want to join your elderly loved one when they are exercising. You or a home care provider can do workout videos with them or just get up and do something with them. This could include walking around their home, playing a game, or organizing their house. Anything active can take their mind off from being depressed and help them to feel better.
Conclusion
These are some of the things that you and home care providers can help your elderly loved one with if they have the winter blues. It is important to remember that sometimes depression doesn’t just go away when the winter months are over. If your elderly loved one is still feeling really down in the spring, you should have them go to see a doctor.
Sources
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2013/01/beat-winter-blues
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-tips-help-ease-winter-blues
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Loudoun, VA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 782-3655.
