Holiday stress and older adults

The holidays can be particularly stressful for older adults for a number of reasons. In the UK, festive periods like Christmas can often intensify feelings of loneliness and isolation, with millions of older people stating they will eat alone or find the season emotionally difficult due to routines changing and decreased social contact. Many older adults live alone, may be far from family, or have lost loved ones, making the usual focus on family togetherness feel challenging rather than joyful. AgeUK states that around 2.3 million saying they wish they had someone to spend time with at Christmas and 1.6 million finding Christmas Day the hardest of the year.

Festivities can often clash with the comfort of familiar routines older people rely on, and changes in activity patterns, meal times, or medication schedules can be difficult, too. At the same time, loneliness and reduced social contact are linked to poorer physical and mental health, including increased risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. While the holiday season may be challenging for these reasons, Helping Hands are here to help you get through it, right in the place you love most – home.

Stress can have a significant impact on everyone, but even more so on older people, especially when it becomes chronic or unrelenting rather than occasional. In older adults, prolonged stress can worsen physical conditions by increasing blood pressure and suppressing immune function, making them more susceptible to infections and slower to recover from illness. It’s also linked to digestive problems, sleep difficulties, headaches and muscle tension, as well as emotional effects like anxiety, irritability and social withdrawal. With all this adding up, it’s understanable that this can diminish quality of life, reduce energy and increase the risk of long-term health issues in later life. For more information on how stress affects the body and mind, see the NHS guidance on stress and coping, and Age UK resources on stress in older people. A Helping Hands carer can help reduce stress in day to day life by being there for you at all times, whether that’s providing you with elderly care that helps with mobility, nutrition support, and better still, provides valued companionship in the home you love.

Adapting holiday traditions for ageing family members can help ensure celebrations remain joyful, safe and inclusive for everyone involved. Small adjustments such as hosting gatherings in accessible homes, planning shorter visits to avoid exhaustion, preparing dietary-appropriate meals, and including meaningful but manageable activities can make a big diffrence to an older person. For those receiving our expert home care, involving a carer in the planning can provide additional reassurance and the feeling that someone has your back. Families may also find more guidance from resources such as Age UK, which offers advice on supporting older relatives, and the NHS, which provides information on winter wellbeing and managing long-term conditions. By focusing on comfort, flexibility and togetherness, holiday traditions don’t have to be a cause of stress and unease, but one filled with joy and high-quality care.