Entering the Season

It is clearly November here in the Northeast.  The ground is covered with bright colored leaves and every time a door is opened, the leaves are making their entrance.  They are in our hallways and our cars, reminders of the winter that lies ahead.

Most of us are already thinking about the holiday season that is approaching as well.  Thanksgiving is just two weeks away and Chanukah is right on its heels this year.  As we think about these holidays in our world of older adult services, we reflect on what an important opportunity they offer to us, and to families, to connect with our elders.

Holiday times are perfect times for reminiscences.  And for families, they are a great time to capture stories of the past that you might not know.  Think about making recordings of your loved one telling you what they remember about the holidays throughout their lives. Ask questions about all the elements of those holidays, from who was there to what they ate.  Ask for the colors and the smells and the feelings.  And be patient. Wait for their response.  Silence, while difficult for most of us, can be our most valuable tool.

So often we find ourselves busy with our own holidays. There is no question, there is a lot to do whether you are hosting or a guest, whether you are traveling or staying home.  We think about meals and menus, parties and decorations.  We shop for gifts for friends and family members, trying to keep track of who got what and whether all the kids have an equal number of packages. And in that hubbub, holding onto the past can get lost.

As we all know, life changes in the space between one heartbeat and the next and that is particularly true with our older adults.  It may be, suddenly, too late to ask a question or preserve a story. And the questions we wanted to ask will become questions we wish we had asked.

Make this the year you take the time to capture those memories.  Bring out the old photos if you have them and ask about them, gather and preserve these memories as what they are—a treasure for future generations.