Thanksgiving marks the start of this holiday season and its important to include all of our loved ones. These gatherings provide seniors well-needed engagement and socialization, which helps reduce loneliness. This holiday is all about showing gratitude, giving back and spending time with family and friends. Research shows that gratitude can have physical, emotional and social benefits to both the supplier and the recipient. Here are a few reasons why it’s important to show appreciation to seniors and their caregivers during the holidays.
Increase Socialization:
During Thanksgiving we acknowledge all that we are grateful for. Giving thanks helps us reflect on our blessings and what we have, which helps people connect to something bigger than themselves. Not only can gratitude help individuals develop healthier relationships, but also can make people more sociable. Social isolation can be incredibly harmful to anyone, but especially to the elderly. According to NCBI, “Loneliness has been identified as a significant factor in physician utilization, independent of health status, depression and somatic complaints.” This is why it is important to keep all loved ones, especially seniors close by during the holiday season.