For many, Christmas is a season of joy, but for others, it can be the hardest time of the year. The festive season often brings expectations of togetherness and celebration, but for adults living in supported-living settings, or those with disabilities or mental-health needs, the holidays can magnify deep feelings of loneliness, grief, or disconnection. In this blog, we explore why Christmas can be especially hard for these individuals, how loneliness affects mental and physical health, and offer practical ideas for supporting adults in care.
Christmas carries a heavy social script. People expect to feel merry, surrounded by family and warmth, but that ideal doesn’t reflect everyone’s reality. For many adults in supported living, disabled people, or people with mental health conditions, the pressure to be joyful can clash painfully with their true emotional state.
Many may be estranged from family or live far from loved ones; complex histories of loss, illness, or grief may resurface strongly. The holidays can amplify memories of better times, of loved ones no longer around, or of past pain, making feelings of loss all the more pronounced.
Another challenge lies in disruption as regular routines may be paused over the holidays: social care services, day-centres, group activities or therapy may shut down or operate reduced hours, leading to sudden isolation. For individuals whose emotional balance depends on the consistency of these routines, the disruption alone can trigger anxiety, sadness or depression.
For people with existing mental health conditions, Christmas may be a minefield of triggers, from financial and social pressure to sensory overload or emotional exhaustion. The festive rush, social comparison, or simply being alone in a season of forced cheer can provoke or worsen anxiety, low mood, or despair.
Loneliness isn’t just an unpleasant feeling; as research shows, it can take a significant toll on both mental and physical health. Studies reveal that people with disabilities or long-term health conditions are substantially more likely to report loneliness than non-disabled people. For example, a large-scale analysis of working-age adults in the UK found that 25.4% of those with persistent disability reported “substantial loneliness,” compared to only 6.9% among adults without disability.
More broadly, the most recent national survey (2023/24) in England found that 15% of disabled adults reported feeling lonely “often or always,” compared with just 3% of non-disabled adults. Respondents whose day-to-day activities were “limited a lot” by their condition were more than twice as likely to feel lonely than those less limited, illustrating how disability severity and functional restrictions deepen isolation. Loneliness is strongly associated with mental health problems. In fact, in the above study, loneliness correlated with both incidence and prevalence of mental health difficulties for adults with persistent disability.
Dedicated to people with disabilities and complex support needs, the charity Sense reports that nearly two-thirds (61%) of disabled people say they experience “chronic loneliness” (i.e., feeling lonely “always” or “often”). Furthermore, 70% of disabled people surveyed say social isolation is affecting their mental health and well-being, reinforcing the deep emotional impact beyond loneliness.
When it comes to the holiday period in particular, the charity Rethink Mental Illness held an internal poll in 2023 surveying more than a thousand people and shared that around 77% said they felt lonely and isolated even when surrounded by loved ones during Christmas, while 84% said their mental health symptoms worsened during the season.
These numbers underscore the fact that loneliness and mental health challenges disproportionately affect people with disabilities or mental health needs, including those living in supported settings, and that Christmas can worsen those feelings rather than relieve them.
For adults living in supported accommodation or care services, there is a significant opportunity and responsibility for supported living providers to intervene in compassionate, effective ways. A supportive, inclusive environment can become a true lifeline at Christmas.
First, creating a festive but inclusive environment can help reframe the holidays in ways that don’t rely on traditional or commercialised Christmas norms. Simple touches like decorations, communal meals and group activities can build community and belonging.
Respecting individual choices is equally important. Not everyone will want to celebrate with tinsel and carols. Some may prefer quieter evenings, reflective time, or an alternative holiday altogether. Supported living services should offer meaningful choice, whether that’s participation in festivities, quiet downtime, or simply trusting relationships and companionship.
The role of staff is essential as they can offer more than just practical support; they can provide companionship, emotional presence, and early recognition of emotional distress. By noticing signs of withdrawal, staff can step in early to offer support, conversation, and connection.
Moreover, peer relationships among supported people can be developed through activities such as shared meals, group crafts, movie nights or social gatherings. Each can build a sense of community and belonging, sometimes resembling the warmth of a family, but based on mutual respect and understanding.
For many people with mental health challenges or disabilities, consistent social contact matters, especially contact that feels voluntary and meaningful, not forced. Supported living providers are uniquely placed to offer that.
What might support look like in practice? Here are some ideas that supported living services, families, friends, or volunteers could use to help ease loneliness during the holidays.
One idea is organising group activities that are simple, inclusive and low-pressure, like baking sessions, movie nights, card-making or arts and crafts. Activities like baking are all about cooperation, conversation, and making good memories, while movie nights or games provide an accessible, low-key way to gather, especially if someone finds large social events overwhelming.
Virtual connections with family or friends, including video calls, phone chats, or even group messages, can also make a big difference, especially for individuals whose loved ones live far away. For those who prefer or need to stay physically apart, virtual contact can bridge the gap.
Participating in giving, such as writing holiday cards, volunteering, or contributing to charity, can help create a sense of purpose and connection beyond one’s immediate circle. For some, giving can feel as meaningful as receiving.
Encouraging mindfulness and self-care is also beneficial. Repetitive holidays, unstructured days or emotional lows can be lifted by small, grounded habits such as gentle exercise, structured sleep and meal routines, journalling, or simply sitting with your regularly scheduled 2pm cup of tea. For many, maintaining routine, even in a small way, can protect against seasonal disruption and emotional instability. The guidance from Rethink Mental Illness suggests planning ahead, setting boundaries about social events, and doing what feels right for your own well-being.
For supported living services, keeping some semblance of normal routine for people in care, such as regular meal times, check-ins, or small group activities, can also be stabilising. Predictability and consistency often feel comforting, especially in a period of change or emotional intensity.
While supported living services can do much to help, families, friends, and the wider community also play a critical role. Sometimes, small gestures like a phone call, letter, visit, or a card can make a world of difference. For individuals in supported living, knowing someone outside the service remembers them can remind them they’re valued and seen.
Involving people in supported living in community events or volunteering can also reconnect them with a broader social network. Whether it’s helping at a foodbank, joining a local volunteer day, or contributing to a neighbourhood project, these opportunities bring purpose, agency, and a sense of belonging.
It’s also vital to challenge and reduce the stigma around loneliness and mental health during the holidays. The idealised, commercialised version of Christmas can make people feel as though they are failing if they’re not joyful. Opening up honest conversations on loneliness, grief and mental health challenges helps normalise these experiences and reduces the shame many feel.
Sometimes loneliness and holiday-related distress cross the line into deeper mental health issues, including depression, severe anxiety, or crisis. It’s important for staff, families and friends to recognise when this might be happening, and to know how to respond appropriately.
If someone is withdrawing severely, showing signs of despair, or expressing hopelessness, these are signals that professional support may be warranted. Staff and loved ones should feel empowered to signpost to professional help, mental health support services, or helplines.
Organisations such as Rethink Mental Illness provide advice on how to manage mental health over Christmas: they highlight the importance of setting realistic expectations, budgeting for holiday expenses, maintaining a routine, and knowing when to reach out for help. For people with disabilities or complex support needs who feel chronically lonely, charities like Sense provide resources and advocacy.
It’s crucial for supported living providers, families, and friends to keep accessible lists of local mental health services, crisis helplines, and community resources, especially during holiday periods, when regular services may be reduced or closed.
Christmas may not be everyone’s favourite holiday, but for many adults with disabilities or mental health needs, especially those in supported living, the festive season can bring heightened loneliness, grief and disconnection. The gap between societal expectations of holiday cheer and lived experiences can leave people feeling unseen, excluded, or forgotten.
That’s why supported living services can be so important at this time of year, and still, families, friends and communities all play an equally crucial role. Sometimes the simplest gestures – a call, a card, or a visit – can transform someone’s holiday from a lonely one into one of connection.
Whether you’re a staff member working in supported living, a family member trying to reach out, a friend offering a kind word, your actions can mean more than you realise.
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/31/3/533/6270956
https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/news/news-archive/loneliness-during-the-festive-season-2023/
https://www.sense.org.uk/information-and-advice/life-stages/adult-life/loneliness/
