What would this time of year be without some holiday decorating?

Boring, if nothing else. The good news is, older adults who are aging in place can create a festive home that’s welcoming, safe and hopefully a reminder of holiday happiness.

Even better, you can decorate with crafts you’ve made, cherished keepsakes or store bought items – and it’ll still look fabulous.

First things first, though: When it comes to turning up the holiday cheer, you want to do it with safety in mind.
Play it safe
Here are seven holiday decorating safety guidelines:

Maintain your …

Older adults can find a variety of fun places to go and things to do this holiday season. And the possibilities must feel great after last year when the pandemic restricted us.
There’s an event or activity for almost everyone, no matter the traditions and holidays you celebrate. You can also find something enjoyable regardless of your activity level.

Things to see for the holidays
Here’s a variety of the many things to see throughout the greater Philadelphia area during the holidays.

Macy’s Christmas Light Show. Full disclosure: I started with this because it’s …

Many older adults look to the holiday season with anxiety, rather than excitement. The problem: You might have to deal with loneliness or other difficult emotions.

Whether alone or not, some adults feel shrouded in loneliness throughout the holidays. How can that be? Sometimes bad weather, unexpected delays or even a pandemic lead to lonely days. Or some older adults live alone or far from family. On the other hand, older adults can also feel alone in a sea of people and activity because they might miss those who aren’t there or struggle with hearing.

The Centers for …

Online or in-person, many older adults feel it’s time to connect more often with their contemporaries again.

And you might not be teenagers anymore, but there’s no harm in acting like them: Make new friends. Find exciting things to do with friends you already have. Or connect online more often as you age in place.

Older adults gain many benefits by connecting with their contemporaries. Harvard Health Publishing compiled separate research that found older adults who connect often with groups of friends gain health benefits such as lower risk of depression and higher co…

Aging in place feels better when your interior design fits your lifestyle.

Most older adults want to be surrounded in comfort, safety and beauty. Fortunately, that’s exactly what interior design calls for these days.

Even better, you can incorporate new trends into your current décor – so you don’t have to face a full-on renovation, which can be more stressful. Or, if you’re handy and enjoy do-it-yourself projects, you can even update or rejuvenate items you have and transform spaces.
First step: Declutter
“Clutter can affect your brain’s ability to concentrate a…