Volume 46 - No. 45
November 17, 2016
By Friedrich Gomez
For many senior citizens around the country peak holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, are just another day on their calendar. As usual, many will be left alone on these, otherwise, festive family get-togethers. It is particularly hard for seniors who have outlived their spouses. Doubly-hard when their grown children and grandchildren have “other plans” – plans which do not include their elderly parents.
A recent survey revealed: “For many seniors, the holidays are not a time of celebration and joy, but only serve as reminders of how lonely he or she may be, the friends that have passed on, the lack of family gettogethers and the inability to participate in such events.” Often, these seniors are excluded, abandoned, and isolated from family plans.
It is a widespread situation, not just here in America, but around the globe. Commonly referred to as the ‘holiday blues,’ elderly depression during the holidays affects senior couples, widows and widowers, singles, and divorcees.
A recent documentary explored the deeply-personal feelings of people living in old-age homes: “Most of whom are tricked into going there.” As research reveals, “Some children feel that their elderly parents are a financial burden. Some abandon them when they are ill.” In general, studies show that most say that they are just too busy to care for them.
For the upcoming holiday season, many of us do not wish to think about these situations. It is just too uncomfortable to reflect upon. Many believe it is best to ignore this reality and just “sweep it all under the rug,” so that otherwise good-feelings and happy-celebrations are not ruined.
As researchers record the voices of the elderly themselves, these abandoned parents still cherish the love of their children, regardless of any neglect. One social worker said, “It is the duty of children to look after their parents when they are old and cannot care for themselves.”
left alone and are not involved. Primarily, because they are considered a burden.
Yet, closing one’s eyes does not erase the fact that the holidays are often a most heartbreaking and devastating experience for many senior citizens who, sometimes, have no spouse or family to rejoice with. Worse yet, that they are neglected by family members who regard them as a bothersome burden. Such isolation and loneliness is especially painful during the height of the holiday season.
Unfortunately, in-depth records show a sad tale of the tape: “Recent trends show that people would rather place their parents in old-age homes, an act which has devastating effects on the emotions of the abandoned parents.”
A 2016 study said that such neglect of senior citizens by family members can have deadly consequences. Regarding lack of social interaction, “Seniors that are withdrawn and lack social contact with others – especially during the height of holiday celebrations – may blame themselves for family members avoiding them. Such feelings of loneliness and isolation cause some seniors to feel that their death wouldn’t really affect anyone.”
Blissful ignorance is often the order of the day. We sometimes pretend it’s not a problem.
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Sadly, this does not always hold true. Parents and children have the purest relationship in the beginning years, but this often changes through time.
Because the holiday season, in particular, is deeply associated with family, grandchildren, and happiness, it can heighten the feelings of loneliness from the aged who are sometimes
Complicating the problem is that, according to mental health professionals, “Many seniors do not wish to speak of their holiday blues, but for the wrong reasons. They often feel that they don’t want to dampen the mood for others, or that they do not wish to admit that they feel isolated and forgotten by family members during what should be a happy time.”
While teenagers are the age group most associated with suicide risk, the terrible truth is that another group is killing themselves at even higher rates: lonely seniors.
It comes as a shock for many to learn that seniors now commit suicide twice as often as teens. “Adults aged 65 to 84 are nearly twice as likely to commit suicide as 15 to 24-year-olds,” according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Beyond age 85, the suicide rate is 70 percent higher. Keep in mind, seniors are unlikely to ask for help because they don’t want to be a burden to anyone.” Regarding the so-called holiday-blues which can negatively affect seniors, it is a growing social problem not just here in America. It is a problem spreading worldwide, especially in socalled civilized, advanced cultures. In Great Britain, a charity has been created in an effort to curb this growing
Obituaries Memorials Area Services Seniors Who Spend Holidays Continued on Page 2 Page 12
Alone