When Zita Christian's husband, Dick, passed away from Alzheimer's disease in July 2022, the first holiday season was profoundly difficult....
When Zita Christian's husband, Dick, passed away from Alzheimer's disease in July 2022, the first holiday season was profoundly difficult. Christian, of Manchester, Connecticut, felt like a zombie, moving through tasks on autopilot while her emotions were raw. She spent the holidays with her daughter's family in Rhode Island but avoided most festive activities, instead preferring to retreat into solitude.
"Grief felt intense, with tears always close to the surface. Simple triggers would bring a flood of emotions no matter where I was," says Christian, host of the "My Spouse Has Dementia" podcast.
As time passed, the grief and loneliness didn't vanish, but it did become more bearable. Christian compares it to the formation of a pearl: An irritant that gets coated over time until the sharp edges smooth out. The second holiday season was a bit easier, and she looked forward to spending it with family.
"We live in these cycles of life, and that's a very positive thing and gives me hope during the holidays," Christian says.
The holiday season can be an emotionally challenging time for many seniors, even those who haven't experienced the loss of loved ones. Long distances from family members, the loss of close friends, chronic health conditions or being homebound can amplify feelings of loneliness and isolation for older adults. The festive season tends to magnify these gaps in social connections.
Social isolation occurs when an individual has minimal contact with family, friends or the community, either by choice or due to other circumstances.
Nearly one-quarter of American adults age 65 and older are socially isolated, according to a 2024 study conducted by Harvard University. In another 2024 study, published in JAMA Network Open, data revealed that increased isolation was associated with an increased risk of mortality, disability and dementia. Further, a third study found that those affected by chronic loneliness and social isolation have approximately a 50% increase in the risk of developing dementia than those who are not affected.
Common risk factors of social isolation for seniors include:
The good news is that there are various ways to help bring some cheer to your holiday season and ease feelings of isolation. Here are 10 ideas to try.
Many community centers, religious organizations and libraries offer free holiday events. Many now also offer hybrid events (in-person plus livestream), making it easier for homebound adults to join in without transportation barriers.
Look for group-run activities, such as holiday book clubs, holiday markets, performances, craft workshops or holiday-specific cooking classes, to meet and interact with others.
Holiday gatherings can also be an opportunity to learn about local resources and services specifically designed for seniors, such as support groups, senior centers or other social programs to help you stay connected throughout the year, not just during the holidays.
You can find events near you through local newspapers, word of mouth, online resources and community bulletin boards at your library or local shops.
2. Volunteer Locally
Giving back and volunteering can be incredibly fulfilling. It gives you a sense of purpose while helping you connect with others in a meaningful way and combat feelings of depression and isolation.
"One way to connect during the holidays is to find opportunities to serve other people, such as helping at a youth center or volunteering to serve holiday meals to those in need. When you serve other people, it connects you to the bigger human story and gives you a sense of accomplishment and connection," says Dr. Jeremy Nobel, the author of the book "Project UnLonely."
Food banks, shelters, charities and senior centers often need extra help over the holidays. If in-person volunteering isn't possible, some organizations also offer remote volunteer options.
"There are many opportunities, such as writing letters to military service members, phone support for lonely people or doing hands-on activities such as sewing, quilting, greeting cards and artwork. You can even make up homeless care packages that can be especially meaningful around the holiday season," says Sally Alter, a contributor to Quora and author of several books, including "A Practical Guide to Overcoming Loneliness."
Organizations to find something that sparks your interest include:
Also consider that hospitals and hospice organizations increasingly offer short-term, seasonal volunteer opportunities that pair older adults with patients or caregivers needing emotional support.
Don't hesitate to reach out and let family or friends know you'd appreciate their company, especially during the holidays when feelings of isolation can be more intense. People often become so absorbed in their own lives, especially during the holidays, that they might not recognize what you need unless you express it clearly.
Ask family members or friends to set up regular check-ins. Instead of texting or emailing, pick up the phone. The act of speaking to someone creates a sense of belonging and can also help foster stronger, more meaningful relationships.
"My daughter, two younger sisters and some close friends were a source of strength and comfort during that first holiday season after my husband passed away," Christian says. "At the time, I felt numb but fragile at the same time. It must have been difficult for them to know what I needed, but they helped me get through some of those lonely and sad times around the holidays."
Year-round, many local communities now offer "friendly caller" programs, which are weekly phone check-ins from trained volunteers for older adults who live alone. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, for instance, try Friendly Voices, or if you live in northern Florida, Caring Connections may be a good fit. Your county's aging office or Area Agency on Aging can direct you to one in your area.
4. Discover Virtual Gatherings
Setting up video calls or group chats can provide you with regular social touchpoints, making the holiday season feel warmer and more connected. Video calls during family meals or holiday traditions, such as baking or decorating, can help you feel connected and engaged, even if you're unable to be there in person.
"Sometimes seniors are reluctant to adapt to technology, but FaceTime, Zoom or other platforms allows you to see your family or friends, which helps to lessen the feeling of isolation," Nobel says.
Getting the hang of new technology can be hard and confusing at first. Libraries and senior centers frequently offer free tech help sessions to get older adults comfortable with Zoom, FaceTime and messaging apps.
5. Adopt a Pet
If you're open to the idea, pets can be wonderful companions that bring daily comfort and reduce feelings of isolation. Pets can offer great companionship as well as unconditional love, and they give people meaning and purpose in their lives.
In a national survey of pet owners and nonpet owners, 85% of respondents agreed that interaction with pets helped reduce loneliness, and 76% reported that human-pet interactions helped reduce social isolation, according to a report commissioned by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute.
If you do not feel like you can take on a pet full-time, many animal shelters offer "holiday fostering," in which you can care for an animal temporarily, or you could volunteer at a shelter. Another thing to consider is some shelters now have senior-to-senior adoption programs, pairing older pets with older adults and offering reduced fees and support.
Pets also have a positive impact on feelings of loneliness and isolation, extending beyond the holiday season. For example, having a pet can be a catalyst for conversation and social interaction when you take them on walks or to a dog park.
6. Hire Help
Bringing in someone, such as a home health care worker, for a few hours once or twice a week can provide companionship and social interaction, and they can also assist with physical necessities. These aides can help seniors engage in holiday traditions and activities, such as decorating, baking or attending community events, they might otherwise struggle with. This can create a more inclusive, happier holiday experience.
Eldercare Locator, a service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can help you find providers in your area as well as information on other services you may not realize are available. You can contact them by calling 800-677-1116 or visiting their website.
7. Revisit Social Media
For some, social media can be one of the best ways to connect with friends and family and gain insight into their lives, especially around the holidays.
However, social media can be a double-edged sword: Engaging on social media can both minimize and increase feelings of isolation and loneliness, so use it with caution.
"Social media can make it seem that others are leading more exciting or fulfilling lives than they truly are. However, some people find social media a good way to keep in touch with family and friends by sending posts and photos to each other," Alter says.
One 2023 study published in Frontiers of Psychology showed that active social media use has a dual impact on loneliness, with the potential to both increase and decrease it. The addition of interpersonal interactions can decrease loneliness; however, feelings of being left out and excluded can actually exacerbate feelings of loneliness.
If you begin to feel lonelier and more isolated while using social media, it may not be the right way for you to connect and engage in social interaction.
8. Connect Online
Many online websites and apps can help connect you with people and activities to lessen the burden of isolation, especially during the holidays.
According to Alter, good online resources for meeting new people include:
-- Meetup, which pairs you with people local to your area who enjoy the same interests
-- Nextdoor, a neighborhood-focused app that enables you to connect with people in your local community and discover events, groups and local information
If you are looking for something senior-specific, take a look at AARP's Senior Planet Community, where you can join interest groups and meet like-minded seniors.
"The internet can be used in a productive way by taking online classes, joining a book club, playing games with others, doing jigsaw puzzles or card games and joining groups with people who share your interests," Alter adds.
9. Engage in Community
Faith-based groups can offer consistent social interactions, act as a supportive community and foster a sense of belonging through shared values and beliefs. For example, do the children in your faith community put on a holiday play? Engaging with children and sharing their holiday excitement by volunteering your time can be a heartwarming way to foster feelings of connection and community while also helping to ward off the holiday blues.
Senior centers, as noted above, offer a welcoming environment that provides older adults with opportunities for social interaction. Many organizations host holiday events and volunteer opportunities, providing both practical and emotional support to make the holiday season more joyful.
In many communities, transportation assistance may be available for holiday services, meals and programs for older or homebound adults.
10. Practice Self-Care
Prioritizing your physical and emotional well-being with self-care can make a big difference. Treating yourself kindly, especially during a time of year when expectations are high, can help ease feelings of isolation.
"Before you can connect with others, you need to connect with yourself," Nobel says. "Ask yourself what the holidays mean to you. Explore your thoughts, for example, by journaling or some other form of creative expression."
Establishing personal holiday rituals, such as cooking a special meal, decorating or watching a favorite holiday movie, can bring comfort and joy. These rituals can be soothing and serve as a reminder that holidays don't have to revolve solely around large gatherings.
If this is not enough and you are still struggling, some mental health professionals are increasingly offering short-term, holiday-specific teletherapy sessions to help manage grief, seasonal depression and loneliness. Check with your insurance plan to see what your costs may be, but it may be worth it to help you work through the underlying issues that may be contributing to your feelings of isolation and loneliness. Talkspace and Grow Therapy are two well-regarded online platforms that take insurance.
Bottom Line
The holiday season can be especially difficult for seniors who may feel isolated due to living far from family, losing loved ones or being homebound with chronic health conditions. Physical limitations, financial concerns and health issues can make it harder to engage in festive activities, leading to a sense of loneliness and isolation.
It is important to recognize and understand feelings of isolation because they can have negative long-term health effects, such as high blood pressure, stroke, cognitive decline and greater susceptibility to diseases like the flu.
Fortunately, both in-person and online activities can help create a sense of connection and bring warmth to the holiday season and throughout the year.
Update 12/04/25: This story was previously published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.