Thanksgiving can be a hectic and challenging time for any family. There are simply so many different areas to consider, along with tasks to complete and people to manage.
In the midst of it all, we can sometimes lose sight of what is truly important.
If you’re a caregiver or have elderly family members, the challenges often become more intense still. There are many things to think about – and countless areas that can go wrong.
But, you can still have a wonderful time with your family, despite these challenges.
With that in mind, this post rounds up some of the most powerful guides and resources to help you find your way this Thanksgiving.
General Advice
Maine Senior Guide is another site with a focus on general advice. They offer a guide called Holidays with Seniors: A Successful Thanksgiving. Their discussion focuses more on challenges that you may face, such as preparing meals and the emergence of dementia symptoms.
The site Boca Home Services highlights Travel Tips for Seniors During Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season. Traveling with seniors does always come with additional challenges. Planning around these from the beginning can ensure a better experience for everyone.
Last year we also posted an article on Caregiving Through the Holiday Season. In it, we focused on finding a balance between the ideal holiday patterns and traditions, and what is practical for your situation.
Thanksgiving Food for Seniors
Hearts at Home highlights a range of Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving for Seniors. This discussion focuses on ways to make the Thanksgiving meal healthy, while ensuring it remains enjoyable.
If you’re looking for ideas, Bon Appetit offers a list of 32 Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes. While many of us love experimenting in the kitchen, the classics are popular for a reason.
Familiar food and drink is also very relevant when catering for seniors. The recipes can help them to feel more at home and may remind them of happy Thanksgiving meals in the past.
Country Living also has a list of 26 Thanksgiving Menus. Many will be suitable for seniors and you can change some aspects based on your own family and needs.
Food to Glow also offers a list of Easy to Chew and Easy to Swallow Recipe Ideas. These aren’t specifically focused on Thanksgiving but they are powerful recipes for seniors who struggle with chewing. You could also tailor many of the recipes to make them rely more heavily on Thanksgiving flavors.
In a similar way, A Place for Mom has a list of 25 Recipes for Senior Nutrition. These are focused on healthy meals that offer powerful nutrition benefits. You could also tweak these to make them more relevant to Thanksgiving.
For Seniors Who Aren’t Living at Home
Senior Advisor offers a list of 7 Thanksgiving Activities for Seniors in Assisted Living. The activities are good ways to ensure that seniors remain engaged with the holiday and that they get the most out of it.
The site Love to Know highlights a set of Thanksgiving Ideas for Nursing Homes. Some of these are simple and may be expected. But, there are some more unusual options on the list as well.
Additional Considerations
The site Association for Long Term Care Planning talks about 31 Important Questions to Ask Your Parents this Thanksgiving. Most of these aren’t traditional Thanksgiving topics at all. Instead, they are important areas that many of us put off – but having ‘the talk’ is both beneficial and essential.
Beyond all of this, it’s important to remember that Thanksgiving is a family time. It is a chance to reconnect, to be thankful and to spend time with one another.
Finding ways to do this is critical – and the best answer will be different for each family. Activities are a powerful tool, as is good food. But, you also need to be sure that you take care of yourself and make sure that the holiday isn’t just a marathon of stress.
Leave a Reply