Beat the Winter Blues: Tips and Activity Ideas for Caregivers
Family Care articles are not a substitute for medical or legal advice from a licensed professional.
Winter is a difficult season for many seniors. Cold, bleak weather and fewer activities can cause boredom, isolation, and even depression. It’s important to keep using the mind and body, even when the weather makes it more challenging. This article includes tips for caregivers to help their loved ones keep their spirits up.
Understand Vitamin D and Mood
Vitamin D impacts our muscle health, bone strength, and immune system, but did you know it also impacts your mood? More and more studies show a link between vitamin D deficiency and depression. In the winter, many people develop seasonal affective disorder (SAD), due at least in part to a decrease in exposure to sunlight.
A doctor can prescribe a vitamin D supplement if your loved one’s levels are low. Many people who are put on a vitamin D supplement report an improvement to their mood. Another common way to fight seasonal affective disorder is with a sun lamp; these lamps provide vitamin D even in darker winter months.
Get a Change of Scenery
If your loved one is not fully homebound, there are plenty of indoor activities that can keep them warm and give them something new to think about. Something as simple as going to the movie theater, grabbing lunch at a restaurant, or taking a drive to look at Christmas decorations can be an enriching experience.
Local libraries, churches, and community centers have frequent activities, like bingo nights, guest speakers, and social groups. These outings would provide a warm, low-exertion change of scenery. Check on the schedules of your area facilities to see if there’s an activity your loved one might enjoy.
Stay Physically Active
Winter weather can make some people turn sedentary; this is also linked to worsened mood. If your loved one has a membership to a gym, they can swim, walk, or take fitness classes. Even if they don’t have access to a gym, they can walk around at a shopping center or do exercises in their living room.
Keep the Hands and Mind Busy
Winter is a great time to break out the art projects! Helping a loved on create Christmas decorations or presents is a great way to get them involved in something productive. Puzzles, coloring books, crocheting, knitting, and scrapbooking are great ways to keep seniors’ hands busy and brains occupied.
Card games, board games, and dominoes are just a few games that can help seniors stay mentally active and have casual conversation. Community organizations often have game nights that can help seniors engage with new people and get out of the house.
If your loved one is reluctant to being “pulled in” to new activities, it doesn’t have to look like a game! Common household tasks are also mentally stimulating and provide a sense of accomplishment. Organizing a desk, cleaning out the closet, or making breakfast muffins for the week are all ways to get moving and thinking.
Replicate Activities Indoors
Plenty of hobbies, like reading, cooking, or painting, can be done inside any time of year. But in some cases, you might need a creative solution for bringing activities indoors. If your loved one gardens in summer months, indoor planters can let them bring that hobby inside. You can grow herbs and other small plants on the kitchen counter year-round. Some flowers bloom year-round or in mild winters, and could be used to brighten up the space.
If a senior likes to be out in nature, a bird feeder near a prominent window is a great way for them to observe animals up close. You can also help them prepare for spring by decorating or picking out new lawn ornaments. Keeping those interests alive during the winter can make the season change a less drastic transition.
Stroll Down Memory Lane
If your loved one still has memories of their youth, talking about the past can be a great way to get them thinking. Asking how the holidays were different when they were young, if their family had any special traditions, or what they liked to do in the winter as a child are great ways to get them talking and thinking about happy times. Listening to old favorite songs or going through old photo albums can get those memories flowing.
Get the Family Involved
A major reason seniors feel isolated during the winter is decreased visits from family members. When the kids are in school and the weather is lousy, many people can’t visit their older loved ones as much. Phone calls, video chats, or emails can hep seniors stay engaged and involved in family life. Sending a care package, dinner prep box, or holiday present can let them know you’re still thinking of them, even if you can’t be there as often.
Winter can cause people to feel down in the dumps, but there’s plenty you can do to keep spirits up! Remember that variety and social engagement are important ways to keep the brain active.
Mood isn’t the only thing that is impacted by cold weather. Winter can pose other risks to seniors’ health—take a look at our recent article about winter safety to see what you can do to keep your loved ones safe.