Alone Together: Easing Isolation while Practicing Social Distancing

Hey there! Do you already have your holiday decorations put away, or will your Christmas tree be up until February? To be honest, I can be either person, depending on the year. This year, Ive been a little slow to pack up my garlands and lights, but thats ok. Organization doesnt mean being perfect all the time.The holiday season can bring fun and joy, but it can also bring chaos to the systems in your home. Theres a proliferation of stuff -- cards, packages, gifts of all kinds, decorations, wrapping paper, social engagements, emotions. After all the partying is over, we can be left with a feeling of overwhelm. As a professional organizer, here are my tips for how to handle all of the stuff that came into your house over the holidays and bring (a little more) peace to your home and heart:  Decide what to keepThis is really the first (and most critical) thing to do as soon as youre ready to move on from the holidays. Take a look at everything that came into your house during the season and keep only what you truly want to have. I dont recommend keeping anything you dont love, need, or want, even if it was a gift (more on that below). If you shove that ugly sweater in a closet, forget about it, and discover it two years later, youll still have to make the same decisions about what to do with it. Decide what to do as soon as you can.  Find a home for everything youre keeping (and put it there right away). If you are keeping a newer/different version of something you already own (for example, you got a nicer coffee maker for Christmas), consider donating or discarding your old item. In other words, follow the one-in, one-out rule if its appropriate.Let go of unwanted gifts   Something I hear all of the time from clients is I dont really like this, but it was a gift and I feel guilty about giving it away.I know that gifts can be tricky. I think honoring the intention of the gift given to us is actually more important than holding onto the actual physical object. Usually, someone gives you a gift to show you that they care about you or because they hope youll enjoy it, not because they expect you to become the permanent caretaker of that object. (And if someone gives you a gift receipt, they dont mind if you return it dont feel guilty!)So how do I handle gifts I dont love? I go out of my way to thank the giver in a way thats sincere. I dont tell someone I loved a particular gift if I didnt, but I do thank them for thinking of me and for their generosity. If I dont want or cant use a gift, I pass it on to someone who can enjoy it more than me. That may mean donating it to a charity, giving it away through my local Buy Nothing group, or regifting to someone who I know would appreciate it.  Sort the trash and recyclingYou probably ended up with lots of boxes after Black Friday. Go through any extra packaging and recycle, throw away, or give away what you cant use immediately. My clients often have a ton of empty boxes they are saving for someday, but those boxes can take up a lot of space (and its likely that more will come into your home soon). Getting them out is one of the easiest ways you can make your home feel less cluttered immediately. If you have boxes in good condition, you can post them on your local Buy Nothing or neighborhood social media group for someone who is moving. Take another look at your holiday cardsBefore you shove them into a box, look at each card individually. Is this specific card something that will be meaningful to you in a year? 10 years? If its not, appreciate the person who sent it to you and recycle the card. If it truly is a keepsake, save it in an album or memory box.  Evaluate your holiday decorMany of my clients struggle with accumulating and storing holiday decor. I recommend thinking about any decor you didnt put out this year will you put it out next year, or are you over it? Do you have more than you can use? Set aside anything you no longer love or want to donate next fall before the holidays (generally, thrift shops do not have space to store out-of-season items for long periods of time). And make sure to carefully store the items you do love and so you can enjoy them next year 

Through its Thanksgiving To-Go Kits and year-round intergenerational programming, GIFT (Giving It Forward, Together) is changing the way Pittsburgh thinks about aging, social isolation, and the power of human connection.As the holiday season approaches, many families begin thinking about Thanksgiving traditions: gathering around the table, sharing a warm meal, exchanging stories, and spending time with the people they love. But for thousands of older adults, the holidays can look very different. For individuals who are homebound, living with physical or cognitive disabilities, immunocompromised, or experiencing social isolation, a holiday that traditionally celebrates togetherness can instead serve as a reminder of the connections they may be missing.This is where GIFT (Giving It Forward, Together) makes a meaningful difference.For 11 years, GIFT has been creating opportunities for connection, purpose, and belonging throughout the Pittsburgh community. Through its weekly intergenerational programming and annual holiday initiatives, GIFT has made a tremendous impact, serving close to 1,000 older adults and bringing together people of different ages and backgrounds through meaningful acts of service.At the heart of GIFT's mission is a simple but powerful belief: Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and connected, regardless of age or circumstance.Thanksgiving To-Go Kits: More Than a Meal, a Reminder That Someone CaresOne of GIFT's most meaningful initiatives each year is its Thanksgiving To-Go Kit program. Designed specifically for older adults who may otherwise have difficulty celebrating the holiday, these thoughtfully assembled kits provide more than just the necessities for a Thanksgiving meal. They deliver a message that someone in the community is thinking about them.Last year, GIFT distributed more than 800 Thanksgiving kits to older adults throughout the Pittsburgh area. Each kit included fresh, hot holiday food, handwritten cards, and small gifts carefully selected to bring comfort and joy. While the meal itself is important, the thought and intention behind each item are what make the experience especially meaningful.Every kit is curated by students in the Pittsburgh community and assembled by volunteers of all ages and stages of life. From students and families to older adults and community members, people come together with one shared purpose: ensuring that someone who might otherwise feel forgotten during the holidays knows they are remembered.The kits are designed to provide recipients with the essential components needed to celebrate Thanksgiving in the comfort of their own homes. For someone who cannot easily shop, prepare a meal, or participate in traditional holiday gatherings, receiving a complete holiday experience can be incredibly meaningful.But perhaps the most important part of the kit cannot be measured by what is inside the box. It is the feeling of opening the door and realizing that someone took the time to think of you. It is the handwritten card, the carefully chosen gift, and the knowledge that people who may never have met you wanted to make your holiday special.It is not simply a meal being delivered. It is a reminder that you matter.For individuals experiencing isolation, that message can make an extraordinary difference.The Power of Feeling Seen: Why Purpose and Connection Matter as We AgeSocial isolation and loneliness among older adults are increasingly recognized as important public health concerns. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social isolation and loneliness are associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and premature death.Research from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has similarly identified social isolation and loneliness as significant risk factors affecting the health and well-being of older adults.But addressing isolation requires more than simply putting people in a room together. Meaningful connection happens when individuals feel that they have something to contribute, that their presence matters, and that they are part of something larger than themselves.This is the philosophy behind GIFT.Per the US Census Bureau, Allegheny County (home to Pittsburgh) ranks as one of the oldest U.S. counties by median and senior age distributionfrequently cited as the sixth-oldest or among the top 10 oldest counties in the U.S. by population percentage, with roughly 19% to 27% of its population aged 65 and older. Through opportunities to participate, volunteer, share experiences, and build relationships, GIFT creates an environment where older adults are not viewed simply as recipients of services, but as valued contributors to their communities.There is an important distinction between being cared for and being given the opportunity to give back. Both matter, but purpose can be just as important as support.Research on intergenerational engagement reinforces this idea. A 2021 systematic review published in Ageing Research Reviews, examining 44 studies, identified potential benefits of intergenerational participation for older adults, including improvements in social functioning, anxiety, and physical activity. A 2023 meta-analysis also found positive associations between intergenerational programs and older adults' quality of life, generativity (the feeling of contributing to future generations), and depressive symptoms.Although researchers continue to study the long-term effects of these programs, the findings support something GIFT sees in its community every day: meaningful relationships and opportunities to contribute can enrich the lives of both generations.Bridging the Generational Gap: Creating a More Empathetic FutureWhile GIFT is committed to improving the lives of older adults, its mission extends well beyond one generation.For many young people, their primary exposure to older adults may be limited to their own grandparents or family members. Without opportunities to interact with people from different generations, young adults may have limited insight into the challenges, experiences, abilities, and contributions of the broader senior population.GIFT works to change that.Through weekly intergenerational programming, students and older adults come together to share experiences, collaborate on meaningful projects, and learn from one another. These interactions create opportunities for students to develop empathy, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of aging.At the same time, older adults have opportunities to share their wisdom, life experiences, perspectives, and talents. They are reminded that their voices matter and that they continue to have an important role in shaping the world around them.The result is a relationship that benefits everyone involved.When younger generations have the opportunity to build genuine relationships with older adults, they begin to see aging differently. Rather than viewing older adults through stereotypes or assumptions, they begin to recognize individuals with unique stories, abilities, interests, and aspirations.This is how communities become more compassionate. It starts with creating opportunities for people to know one another.Rethinking Aging: Moving Beyond Traditional Senior ProgrammingGIFT believes that aging should not mean becoming disconnected from the community or losing a sense of purpose. Instead, it should be an opportunity to continue growing, contributing, learning, and building relationships.As life expectancy increases, the conversation surrounding aging needs to evolve. It is no longer enough to focus solely on living longer. We must also consider how we can support people in aging better.Regardless of cultural, ethnic, racial, or socioeconomic differences, aging is something every person shares. It is one of the few experiences that connects us all.GIFT is working to make that shared experience more meaningful by creating opportunities for intergenerational wellness, community involvement, and purposeful engagement.And this commitment does not end with Thanksgiving.In addition to Thanksgiving To-Go Kits, GIFT provides annual Passover To-Go and Winter Holiday Kits. Each initiative is thoughtfully curated and designed by students in the Pittsburgh community, with volunteers helping bring the kits to life. Whether providing the necessities for a Passover Seder, a warm and festive winter package, or a complete Thanksgiving celebration, each kit is created with the same intention: helping older adults feel remembered, included, and cared for.Together, these programs demonstrate how simple acts of kindness, when organized around a shared purpose, can create meaningful community impact.A Pittsburgh Community Where Everyone BelongsAfter 11 years, GIFT continues to demonstrate that addressing social isolation requires a community-wide commitment. It takes students willing to learn, volunteers willing to give their time, and community members willing to recognize that older adults deserve opportunities for connection just as much as anyone else.The Thanksgiving To-Go Kits are a beautiful example of what can happen when generations come together with a common purpose. A student thoughtfully selects the contents, volunteers assemble each package, and an older adult receives something that communicates far more than the value of the items inside.They receive a reminder that they are part of a community.As GIFT looks ahead, its vision remains focused on bridging generations, challenging the way society views aging, and creating a future where people of every age feel valued and connected.Because ultimately, the goal is not simply to add more years to life, but to add more life, meaning, and connection to those years.Do you know an older adult who would benefit from a Thanksgiving To-Go Kit or one of GIFT's annual holiday kits? Whether someone is homebound, isolated, living with a disability, or simply could use a little extra kindness this holiday season, GIFT wants to help make sure they are not forgotten.To learn more about GIFT, explore its programs, or inquire about holiday kit recipients and volunteer opportunities, visit www.giftpgh.org.Together, we can make sure that no one feels forgotten and that every generation has an opportunity to give, receive, and grow. 

When an aging parent begins needing additional assistance, families often find themselves entering unfamiliar territory.Perhaps Mom has recently returned home from the hospital and needs help managing daily activities. Dad is becoming less comfortable driving. Or a spouse is experiencing mobility challenges that make everyday routines more difficult.Suddenly, questions begin piling up.What type of care is available? How much assistance is really necessary? Does Medicare pay for home care? What programs are available in Minnesota? And perhaps most importantly, where should the family begin?For many families, navigating senior care can feel overwhelming, especially when decisions need to be made quickly.Understanding the available options is the first step toward making confident, informed decisions that support independence, safety, and quality of life.Understanding the Different Types of Senior CareOne of the most confusing aspects of senior care is understanding the terminology.Home care, home health care, assisted living, and skilled nursing are sometimes used interchangeably, but they provide different levels of support.Knowing the differences can help families identify services that best match their loved one's needs.Non-Medical In-Home CareNon-medical home care focuses on helping individuals manage everyday activities while remaining in their own homes.Depending on the provider's license and authorized services, assistance may include personal care, companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, and respite care.This type of support can be particularly beneficial for older adults who want to maintain independence but need help with certain daily routines.Services may be arranged for a few hours each week or more frequently as needs change.Skilled Home Health CareSkilled home health care involves medical services provided by appropriately licensed healthcare professionals.These services may include nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and certain medical treatments.Skilled home health services are often recommended following hospitalization, surgery, illness, or a significant change in health.Medicare may cover qualifying home health services when specific eligibility requirements are met.However, Medicare generally does not cover ongoing custodial assistance when that is the only care needed.Assisted Living CommunitiesAssisted living communities provide housing and supportive services for individuals who need help with daily activities but do not necessarily require continuous skilled nursing care.Services vary by community and may include meals, personal care assistance, medication-related services, housekeeping, and social activities.For some seniors, assisted living provides an appealing combination of independence, convenience, and available support.Others prefer to remain in their own homes with assistance from an in-home care provider.Skilled Nursing FacilitiesSkilled nursing facilities provide a higher level of medical and personal care for individuals with more complex needs.Some offer short-term rehabilitation following hospitalization, while others provide longer-term residential nursing care.The appropriate setting depends on the individual's medical condition, functional abilities, preferences, and available support.Start by Evaluating Your Loved One's NeedsBefore selecting a senior care provider, families should consider what assistance is actually needed.A thoughtful assessment begins with everyday activities.Can your loved one prepare meals independently? Are bathing and dressing becoming difficult? Is transportation a concern? Are medications being taken as prescribed?It's also important to consider social and emotional needs.Does your parent spend long periods alone? Have they stopped participating in favorite activities? Are family caregivers struggling to keep up with responsibilities?Discussing these questions with your loved one can help identify priorities and preferences.When medical concerns are involved, a healthcare professional can help determine whether a clinical evaluation or skilled services are appropriate.The goal should be to provide the right level of assistancenot more care than necessary, but enough support to address important needs.Understanding How Senior Care Is Paid ForCost is often one of the first concerns families raise when exploring care options.Unfortunately, payment arrangements can be complicated.Different services may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, long-term care insurance, or personal funds.MedicareMedicare may cover certain medically necessary home health services when eligibility requirements are satisfied.However, Medicare generally does not pay for long-term non-medical home care, routine housekeeping, or ongoing personal assistance when these are the only services required.Families should review their specific Medicare coverage before assuming a service will be reimbursed.Minnesota Medical AssistanceMinnesota's Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance, may help eligible individuals pay for certain long-term services and supports.Programs such as the Elderly Waiver can help qualifying older adults receive services in community settings rather than nursing facilities.Eligibility depends on factors including age, financial circumstances, assessed care needs, and program requirements.Long-Term Care InsuranceSome long-term care insurance policies provide benefits for qualifying in-home care services.Coverage varies significantly depending on the policy.Families should review benefit limits, elimination periods, covered services, and requirements for receiving reimbursement.Private PayMany families pay directly for non-medical home care.Private-pay arrangements may offer flexibility in scheduling and selecting services.Before beginning care, ask providers about hourly rates, minimum visit requirements, cancellation policies, and any additional fees.Minnesota Resources That Can Help FamiliesFortunately, Minnesota offers several resources designed to help older adults and their families understand available services.Minnesota's Senior LinkAge LineThe Senior LinkAge Line is a free statewide resource that helps older adults and families explore Medicare questions, prescription drug coverage, community services, and long-term care options.It is operated through Minnesota's aging network and can be a helpful starting point for families unfamiliar with available programs.Minnesota Board on AgingThe Minnesota Board on Aging provides information and resources related to aging services, caregiver support, and programs that help older adults remain connected to their communities.Disability Hub MNFor individuals with disabilities, Disability Hub MN offers information about benefits, services, housing, employment, and community resources.These programs can help families better understand their options and identify additional support.Why Care Navigation Can Make a DifferenceEven after learning about available services, families may struggle to determine which options are appropriate.This is where care navigation can become especially valuable.Care navigation helps individuals and families understand their needs, identify relevant services, and explore available resources.For example, a family may need assistance coordinating non-medical home care after a hospitalization.Another may be trying to understand community-based support programs or determine whether additional caregiving assistance is necessary.A knowledgeable care navigator can help organize information, clarify options, and guide families toward appropriate resources.Care navigation does not replace medical advice or official eligibility determinations, but it can make the decision-making process more manageable.For adult children who live outside Minnesota, this additional guidance can be particularly reassuring.Planning Ahead Can Prevent Difficult DecisionsMany families begin researching senior care only after an unexpected event.A fall, hospitalization, or sudden decline in mobility may create an urgent need for assistance.While some situations cannot be anticipated, planning ahead can reduce confusion.Families can begin by discussing their loved one's preferences.Would they prefer to remain at home as long as possible? What activities are becoming difficult? Who should be involved in future care decisions?It's also helpful to organize important documents, review insurance coverage, and identify trusted healthcare professionals and community resources.These conversations may feel uncomfortable initially, but they can help preserve the older adult's voice in future decisions.How Northern Lights Living Helps Minnesota FamiliesBased in Savage, Minnesota, Northern Lights Living understands that navigating senior care involves more than selecting a caregiver.Families often need guidance, reassurance, and a clear understanding of their options.Northern Lights Living provides personalized, non-medical in-home care services designed to support seniors and individuals with disabilities who wish to remain in familiar surroundings.The company emphasizes caregiver compatibility, individualized routines, meaningful companionship, and communication with families.In addition to home care, Northern Lights Living offers care navigation services to help families better understand available support options and community resources.Whether a family is beginning to explore assistance for an aging parent or adjusting to changing care needs, having a compassionate and knowledgeable partner can make the process less overwhelming.Taking the First Step Toward Better SupportThere is no single solution that works for every senior or family.Some older adults benefit from a few hours of companionship each week. Others need regular assistance with personal care or daily household activities.Still others may require skilled medical services or a different living arrangement.The most important step is understanding the individual's needs, respecting personal preferences, and exploring available options before making major decisions.Senior care doesn't have to be navigated alone.With reliable information, thoughtful planning, and the right support, Minnesota families can make decisions that protect independence, promote dignity, and provide greater peace of mind.About Northern Lights LivingNorthern Lights Living is a Savage, Minnesota-based provider of personalized, non-medical in-home care and care navigation services for seniors, adults with disabilities, and their families throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area.The company focuses on individualized caregiving, caregiver compatibility, family communication, and helping individuals navigate changing care needs.Northern Lights LivingSavage, MinnesotaPhone: 651-329-3526Website: www.northernlightsliving.comHelping Minnesota Families Find the Right Care, Support, and Peace of Mind.