Tips for keeping seniors engaged during the festive holidays

The festive season brings warmth, music and family — but it can also highlight loneliness and low energy for older people. In Nigeria, where only a small proportion of the population is aged 65 and over (around 3% in 2024), older adults are often less visible in public planning and services, which makes intentional inclusion at home even more important. (Trading Economics)

Here are practical, evidence-backed ways to keep seniors active, connected and safe during the holidays — framed for busy families and carers in Nigeria.

1. Make participation flexible and low-effort
Not every activity needs to be full-on. Offer shorter shifts for cooking, light decorating, card-signing, or storytelling so an older person can contribute without tiring. Research shows that mixing light physical activity with meaningful social roles improves wellbeing in later life. (Frontiers)

2. Use rituals to anchor belonging
Familiar songs, prayers or recipes activate memory and identity. For people with memory problems, music and repetitive rituals can spark communication and reduce anxiety — a simple carol or a favourite hymn can transform a quiet afternoon into a shared moment. (The Guardian)

3. Build small, safe outings into the plan
If mobility allows, short trips to a church service, local market or community event can break isolation. Plan for transport, rest stops and medication needs. Caregivers who prepare logistics make it possible for older family members to enjoy the lights and crowds without stress. (Heavenly Care)

4. Make technology work for them
WhatsApp voice notes, short video calls and family photo groups are low-barrier ways to include seniors who can’t be physically present. Emerging evidence suggests regular, purposeful online engagement can support cognition and reduce isolation when used appropriately. A daily hello by phone or short video message gives something to look forward to. (Health)

5. Plan intergenerational activities
Children and young adults bring energy — simple joint tasks like making ornaments, baking soft snacks, or sharing family stories create meaning across generations. Studies find intergenerational contact can boost mood, reduce loneliness and even motivate healthier routines in older adults. (SpringerLink)

6. Adapt traditions for health needs
Temperature, mobility and medication schedules matter. Offer seating near the action, adjust recipes for chewing or swallowing problems, and avoid long periods of standing. Small adjustments keep seniors included and comfortable. (Dakota Home Care)

7. Watch for warning signs and plan for downtime
Holiday stress may worsen sleep, appetite or mood. Carers should watch for unusual withdrawal, increased confusion or falls and schedule quiet recovery time after events. Simple check-ins and a calm space to rest help prevent exhaustion and crises. (Mayo Clinic News Network)

Final thought & call to action
Holidays are about belonging. With small adaptations and purposeful planning, families and carers can make the season joyful and safe for older relatives. If you found these tips helpful, please share this post — raising awareness is how communities change.

10 relevant hashtags

#ElderCare #HolidayCare #SeniorWellbeing #IntergenerationalJoy #EOONCare #C.A.R.E #NigerianCaregivers #CombatLoneliness #InclusiveHolidays #CaregivingTips

How this links to EOON Care

EOON Care’s nurse-led approach means clinical knowledge and compassionate practice meet at the family table. Our teams put C.A.R.E. — Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence — into action by tailoring holiday plans to health needs, supporting safe outings, and coaching families on communication and routines. If your family needs support to make the festive season inclusive and stress-free, EOON Care provides trained nurses and carers to plan, assist and reassure.

International Day for Persons with Disabilities: a moment to listen, include and act

 International Day for Persons with Disabilities: a moment to listen, include and act

Each year on 3 December, the world marks the International Day for Persons with Disabilities — a simple date that opens space for a powerful conversation about rights, access and dignity. The day is about more than awareness: it’s about making real changes so disabled people can participate fully in family life, work, faith communities and public services. (United Nations)

What’s happening in Nigeria — the numbers (and the gaps)

Estimates vary, but recent international and national reviews suggest tens of millions of Nigerians live with some form of disability. Different methods of counting give different totals — a reminder that disability is both widespread and under-recorded. Better data is an urgent need if policies and services are to match real lives. (openknowledge.worldbank.org)

On the ground, the effects are visible: people with disabilities face barriers in health care, transport, education and employment. When health systems fail to supply essential medicines or rehabilitation (for example, disruptions that worsen preventable disabling conditions), the consequences ripple through families and communities. (Reuters)

What this means for older people and family carers in Nigeria

Disability and ageing are tightly linked. Many older Nigerians live with mobility, sensory or cognitive difficulties that look like — and are treated as — disability. Family members do the lion’s share of care: unpaid daughters, sons, spouses and neighbours who step in to help with washing, feeding, medication and hospital visits. Research from similar Nigerian contexts shows informal carers carry significant physical, emotional and financial burdens, often without training or support. Strengthening support for carers is therefore also a direct way to support older people living with disabilities. (BioMed Central)

Nurse-led care: why EOON Care’s approach matters

Nurse-led, person-centred care fills a crucial gap. Nurses bring clinical know-how together with holistic care planning — mobility support, safe medication practice, skin/pressure-sores prevention, and family training on everyday tasks. At EOON Care we combine clinical competence with our C.A.R.E. values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. That means listening to the person first, training family carers where needed, and coordinating with local clinics so every client benefits from continuity of care.

Real examples across Nigeria — community rehabilitation groups, prosthetic services and grassroots support networks — show how rehabilitation and simple assistive devices transform independence and dignity. When these services are coordinated by trained nurses, outcomes improve and families feel less alone. (AP News)

Practical steps communities and families can take

• Start conversations at home: ask older relatives about difficulties with mobility, hearing, sight or memory.

• Make small home adjustments — a handrail, clearer lighting, non-slip surfaces — that prevent falls and make life easier.

• Seek nurse-led assessments early: timely rehab and training for family carers often avoids hospital readmissions.

• Advocate locally: demand disability-inclusive services from clinics, schools and transport providers.

A final thought — dignity is non-negotiable

Disability is not an individual problem; it’s a social challenge shaped by policy, attitudes and services. On International Day for Persons with Disabilities we renew a simple promise: design services and homes so people of all ages can live with dignity, safety and independence.

Please share this post to raise awareness — the more people we reach, the more voices we amplify.

(United Nations)

10 relevant hashtags

#IDPD #DisabilityInclusion #ElderCareNigeria #FamilyCaregivers #NurseLedCare #AccessibilityForAll #Rehabilitation #InclusiveHealth #EOONCareCares #CaringWithCARE

World AIDS Day: Older Nigerians, carers and the right to dignified care

 World AIDS Day: Older Nigerians, carers and the right to dignified care

Every 1 December, we mark World AIDS Day — a moment

to remember lives lost, celebrate progress, and sharpen our focus on gaps that remain. The 2025 theme, “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” calls for renewed action to protect services, reduce stigma and reach people who are too often invisible — including many older adults and the families who care for them. (UNAIDS)

Why this matters in Nigeria (simple facts)

Nigeria’s HIV epidemic is concentrated but substantial: adult prevalence among people aged 15–49 sits at about 1.3%, and an estimated 1.9 million Nigerians are living with HIV. Access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is improving — roughly 1.69 million adults were reported to be receiving ART — yet gaps in testing, treatment continuity and prevention persist. (UNAIDS)

The often-overlooked reality for older adults

HIV is not only a young person’s issue. Recent reviews from Nigeria highlight that HIV among people aged 50 and over can be considerably higher in some settings — with studies reporting prevalences (in the samples studied) as high as 8.2% among older age groups — and that older people living with HIV frequently face multimorbidity, polypharmacy and barriers to testing and care. This underscores the importance of tailored care and caregiver education. (PubMed Central)

What this means for family and professional carers

For families and paid carers, the implications are practical and human:

• Older clients may have multiple chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, mobility issues) alongside HIV, so medication reviews and careful coordination with clinicians are essential.

• Stigma and misconceptions about HIV in older people can delay diagnosis and isolate both the person living with HIV and their carers.

• Disruptions to supply chains or donor funding (a real risk globally) directly threaten ART continuity — making local, reliable caregiving and advocacy even more important. (UNAIDS)

EOON Care’s nurse-led response: C.A.R.E. in action

At EOON Care, our nurse-led teams approach HIV-aware elder care through C.A.R.E. — Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. That looks like: routine, discreet screening conversations during visits; medication support (adherence checks and safe storage); coordinating with clinics to prevent ART interruptions; and educating families to reduce fear and stigma. Nurses spot red flags early (drug interactions, falls, mood changes) and act as the bridge between the older person, their family and the health system.

Small actions, big impact

Simple steps make a big difference: ensure older clients are offered age-appropriate HIV testing, build medication schedules that accommodate other prescriptions, keep an emergency list of ART clinics and telephone contacts, and talk openly — with kindness — about sexual health and dignity. Globally, there were an estimated 40.8 million people living with HIV in 2024; local action in homes and communities scales to that global picture. (UNAIDS)

Call to action

This World AIDS Day, please share this post to help normalise conversations about HIV in later life, support carers who keep older Nigerians safe, and urge policymakers to protect uninterrupted access to ART and community services. Simple acts — sharing information, checking-in with an elderly neighbour, or joining a local awareness drive — matter.

Share to raise awareness. Stand with older people living with HIV. Stand with their carers.

Hashtags
#WorldAIDSDay #EndAIDS #ElderCare #HIVAwareCare #CaringWithoutStigma #EOONCare #NurseLedCare #HIVinOlderAdults #HealthForAll #ShareToCare

Holiday Wishes from EOON Care

 

Christmas holiday preparation tips for families — practical, caring and Nigeria-ready

Christmas holiday preparation tips for families — practical, caring and Nigeria-ready

The festive season is a wonderful time for family, but for many Nigerian households it also brings extra planning, cost and — for those caring for older relatives — added responsibility. Below are clear, compassionate tips to help families enjoy Christmas while keeping elders safe, comfortable and connected. Where useful, I’ve added short, evidence-led notes so you can plan with facts, not guesswork.

1. Start with a simple checklist (2–3 weeks before)

Write down essentials: medical supplies, medication refills, mobility aids, contact numbers, and any dietary needs. Having a checklist reduces last-minute stress and prevents dangerous gaps in care — especially important when pharmacies and clinics have altered opening hours over holidays.

2. Budget for the season — and prioritise essentials

Christmas spending has been squeezed by high prices across Nigeria. Many families reported cutting back on travel and big festivities as food and transport costs rose last year. Plan a realistic budget that puts essential care (medicines, transport to clinic, nutritious food) before non-essentials like big gift hampers. (The Guardian Nigeria)

3. Secure medications and appointments early

Refill prescriptions at least two weeks before Christmas and confirm any clinic appointments. Studies from Nigeria show caregivers frequently experience financial and time burdens — having medicines and appointments resolved early reduces one big source of holiday stress for carers and care-recipients. (PMC)

4. Share duties across the family

Caregiving is often a family responsibility in Nigeria, but the burden can fall unevenly on one person. Research finds many family carers spend several hours daily on care tasks and report high levels of strain. Delegate practical tasks (shopping, cooking, sitting with your elder for an hour) so no one person becomes exhausted. Even short, scheduled relief shifts make a big difference. (The Nigerian Health Journal)

5. Plan low-risk festive activities

Choose celebrations that suit mobility and health needs: a small family meal at home, music and video calls with distant relatives, or a short, gentle walk. Avoid crowded venues or long trips that could cause fatigue, falls or missed medication times.

6. Food and nutrition — small changes, big impact

With food prices elevated, focus on nutrient-dense, low-cost choices: local staples (yams, beans, plantain), leafy greens, legumes and lean proteins. These deliver energy and help maintain strength, which reduces hospital visits over the holiday surge.

7. Emergency readiness

Keep a list of emergency numbers (nearest hospital, GP, family contacts), an up-to-date medicines list, and a light first-aid kit accessible. Make sure at least two relatives know where these are kept.

8. Use community resources and professional support

Where family capacity is limited, consider short-term professional support — home-visiting nurses, respite carers or telehealth check-ins. Nigeria’s ageing demographic is small as a share of the population today, but the need for organised elder support is growing; planning for help now prevents crises later. (Trading Economics)

9. Keep communication kind and clear

Talk openly about preferences and limitations with older relatives. Invite them to help shape the plan — this preserves dignity and avoids misunderstandings.

Christmas should be joyful, not overwhelming. A little planning — focused on health, budgets and shared responsibility — keeps elders safe and lets families celebrate together.

Please share this post to help other families prepare and raise awareness about elder-friendly holiday planning.

Hashtags

#ChristmasCare #ElderFriendlyChristmas #FamilyCareNigeria #EOONCare #NurseLedCare #CaregiverSupport #FestiveWellbeing #CaringThroughChristmas #HealthFirstHolidays #NigeriaFamilyTips

 

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Why every family — and every carer — should care

Every year on 25 November, the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women — a powerful reminder that what happens behind closed doors matters to us all. This day also launches the global 16 Days of Activism, urging collective action to prevent abuse, protect survivors, and strengthen care systems.

Violence against women is not only shocking headlines — it is happening daily, in homes, in communities, and especially among older women who depend on caregivers for safety and support.
📌 Everyone — families, friends, health professionals — has a role in ending it.
([UN.org][1])

📊 What the numbers reveal

• 1 in 3 women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner.

• Millions more face emotional, financial and digital abuse.

• In Nigeria, national surveys show a similar 1 in 3 prevalence of intimate partner violence.

These stats reflect real women — mothers, daughters, grandmothers — whose lives and health are deeply affected.
([WHO Data][2])

👵 Older women are often overlooked

Emerging research in Nigeria shows rising concern for elder abuse:

✅ Neglect (most common)
✅ Verbal and emotional abuse
✅ Financial exploitation

Stress, poverty, stigma and lack of caregiver support can make vulnerable women even less safe. Many suffer in silence because dependence on carers reduces their ability to speak out.
([PMC Study][3])

This is where trained caregiving and nurse-led home care becomes essential.

👩‍⚕️ The role of nurse-led care: spotting abuse early

Nurses are uniquely positioned to:

🩺 Recognise visible and hidden signs of abuse
🗂️ Document concerns professionally
🛟 Coordinate referrals to medical, legal and social support
🤝 Advocate for dignity and safety

These interventions protect health and restore confidence for survivors of any age.

🤝 EOON Care stands for safety and dignity

At EOON Care, preventing violence is part of how we care.

We train our nurse-led teams to deliver support guided by our core values:

C.A.R.E.

✨ Compassion — listening without judgement
🔍 Accountability — acting quickly when concerns arise
🤲 Respect — protecting dignity and privacy
🏅 Excellence — delivering best-practice clinical care

From spotting unexplained injuries…
to encouraging confidential conversations…
to arranging referrals and family mediation —
our goal is clear: no woman should feel unsafe in her own home.

🧡 What YOU can do today

✔ Believe women when they speak
✔ Support caregivers with training and rest
✔ Share life-saving information
✔ Check in on older neighbours, aunties and grandmothers
✔ Speak up when something feels wrong

Small actions protect lives.

📣 Join the movement

This International Day, let’s turn awareness into action.

💬 Share this post
📞 Start conversations
👀 Look out for women around you

Together, we can protect a woman, an elder — a family.

🔖 Hashtags

#EndViolenceAgainstWomen #16DaysOfActivism #ProtectOurElders #EOONCare #NurseLedCare #C.A.R.EinAction #StopGenderBasedViolence #CaregiversMatter #NigeriaAgainstViolence #ShareToProtect

❤️ EOON Care’s commitment

EOON Care’s mission is to enhance safety and dignity through nurse-led, community-based home care. We integrate violence prevention, survivor-sensitive communication, and safety planning into all care visits — supporting families, empowering older women, and strengthening protection systems. Driven by C.A.R.E., we ensure every woman feels respected and safe in the place she calls home.
([Nigeria DHS][4])