Holiday Happiness for the Whole Family

Fall is here, and with it comes some of the most memorable times of the year—the holidays! Perhaps more than any other occasion, the holiday season is steeped in family tradition, with cherished elements that sometimes span generations. But when family members get older, or have declining health, maintaining their involvement in those traditions can become more of a burden than a boon.
Shehnaz and Munah Vadgama, owners of Visiting Angels—a division of one of the nation’s leading non-medical home care companies—have some suggestions on how you can make sure that older relatives are included as part of the family’s holiday events, even if they can’t participate the same way they used to.

“Your loved one may not want to admit they can’t make dinner for 25 anymore,” says Shehnaz, “But you really need to evaluate what they can reasonably manage. Small modifications can make a big difference. Different family members can provide parts of the meal, or holiday catering from local grocery stores is very reasonable. You can use the family dishes and skip the preparation, or even use elegant disposable dinnerware. The key is to be flexible while keeping the routine as much as possible…all the while looking for opportunities to make things easier in a meaningful way.”

Are you holding onto traditions out of habit? “Don’t just do things because it’s ‘the way we’ve always done things,’” says Shehnaz, “Decide which elements truly hold meaning for your family, then make changes where needed. Grandkids can help decorate and cousins can drive loved ones to shopping centers. You may come up with some new traditions that you love even more! Plan early, make sure all of the extended family is on the same page…you’re in for a great holiday!”

“What really matters is that everyone gets to enjoy this special time,” says Shehnaz, “And that means you also deserve to enjoy festivities instead of being primarily a caregiver. Hiring one of our angels during the holidays allows you to spend more time with the family and have peace of mind!”
For more ideas or if you need information on homecare help for the holidays or beyond, give Visiting Angels a call!

Visiting Angels
281-207-1259
19901 Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, TX 77479
www.visitingangels.com