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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAshley Olson\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubmitted photo\/CenterWell Senior Primary Care\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
By Ashley Olson | Phoenix<\/p>\n
OPINION \u2014 The holiday season is often a time of joy, family and togetherness, but it also can be a period marked by loneliness, grief and emotional complexity.<\/p>\n
The season may bring up memories of loved ones who are no longer with us, as well as\u00a0ambiguous losses\u00a0such as changes in traditions, financial resources, mobility or lifestyle. It can intensify feelings of absence or highlight what has changed.<\/strong><\/p>\n These experiences are more common than many realize. As a licensed clinical social worker with more than 15 years of experience, I\u2019ve learned that even small, intentional efforts to connect can make a meaningful difference in well-being.\u00a0Strengthening emotional well-being often begins with validating feelings rather than pushing them aside.<\/p>\n How seniors can stay connected<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Reach out to loved ones.<\/strong> Scheduling regular video calls or phone conversations allows you to hear a familiar voice. While they can\u2019t replace in-person connections, even brief check-ins serve as a reminder that someone cares.<\/p>\n \u2022 Build your social network.<\/strong> Many community centers and senior programs around the Valley host activities and holiday gatherings that provide social engagement. I\u2019ve seen seniors form friendships through bingo, arts and crafts, and other activities offered in our community rooms.<\/p>\n \u2022 Make new memories.<\/strong> When old traditions aren\u2019t possible, consider making new ones. Try that new recipe, send handwritten cards or attend a community event \u2014 holiday-themed festivities are always crowd-pleasers, and a wonderful way to feel part of the community.<\/p>\n \u2022 Find a cause to support.<\/strong> Volunteering can be a powerful antidote to loneliness and a great way to connect to others. Service provides a sense of purpose, connection and joy. Opportunities range from spending time with people to even baking for those without family. Idealist.org is a great resource for finding both virtual and in-person volunteer roles.<\/p>\n \u2022 Set healthy boundaries.<\/strong> Many seniors worry about interfering with their adult children\u2019s plans, but communicating your needs is essential. Boundaries are not only about what we don\u2019t want, they are also about sharing what feels good or supportive. Loved ones often won\u2019t know how you want to be included unless you tell them, and boundary-setting is a negotiation that helps honor everyone\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n \u2022 Coping with grief or seasonal depression. <\/strong>Grief \u2014 both from the loss of loved ones and the loss of traditions or roles \u2014 is common during the holidays. If you\u2019re carrying grief, consider making intentional space for it. Give yourself time to look at photos or shed a tear before attending social events. This emotional \u201ccontainment\u201d can help prevent overwhelming feelings later.<\/p>\n \n \u2022 Talk to a professional. <\/strong>It\u2019s important to reach out for support when feelings of loneliness become overwhelming. Talking to a trusted health care or mental health provider can open the door to coping strategies that help make the season feel brighter. Fortunately, I\u2019ve found that seniors are increasingly willing to express their emotions and talk about their mental health. Telehealth is a great option for those with transportation difficulties.<\/p>\n \n This season, I encourage seniors and those who care for them to find small moments of connection, whether it\u2019s sharing memories over the phone, attending a local event, giving back to the community or meeting with a health professional.<\/p>\n When we take time to nurture relationships and open our hearts, we are reminded that connection is one of the greatest gifts we can give or receive.<\/p>\n Ashley Olson, LCSW, DSW is a behavioral health specialist in Phoenix. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net\/letters<\/a> or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org.\u00a0We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our\u00a0Civility Guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ashley Olson Submitted photo\/CenterWell Senior Primary Care By Ashley Olson | Phoenix OPINION \u2014 The holiday season is…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":444294,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5131],"tags":[5229,5643,1587,18018,36851,7709,69697,1589,6358,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-444293","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-phoenix","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-arizona","10":"tag-az","11":"tag-connection","12":"tag-grief","13":"tag-holidays","14":"tag-loneliness","15":"tag-phoenix","16":"tag-seniors","17":"tag-united-states","18":"tag-united-states-of-america","19":"tag-unitedstates","20":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","21":"tag-us","22":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115711850649259690","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=444293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444293\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/444294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=444293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=444293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=444293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}