December Healthcare Observances: Staying Healthy During the Holidays
December invites us to come together and celebrate the start of winter and the holiday season with our loved ones. However, it’s also a meaningful time to raise awareness about December's critical healthcare observances.
From World AIDS Day to flu vaccination initiatives and disability awareness campaigns, December provides opportunities to prioritize health and well-being during this reflective time of year.
In this article, we’ll explore key national health observances celebrated in December and offer ways for you to get involved.
World AIDs Day
December 1st marks World AIDS Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the impact of HIV and AIDS while recognizing the remarkable progress in treatment over the past few decades. An estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, with 13% unaware of their condition.
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the immune system, making it harder to fight off infections and illnesses. If untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, where the immune system becomes severely compromised, leading to serious health issues and death.
While HIV is commonly associated with sexual transmission, it can also be passed from mother to child during birth or through shared needles.
World AIDS Day was started to raise awareness and support for those living with HIV and AIDS. The goal was to dispel stigmas around the condition to propel treatment efforts and encourage individuals to get tested regularly.
2024 marks the 37th year observing World AIDS Day. This year’s theme, “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress,” underscores the need for a unified approach to combating HIV.
You can show your support by discussing HIV with those you know, encouraging regular HIV and other sexually transmitted disease testing, or donating to an HIV campaign that resonates with you.
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week
This December 1st through the 7th is Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week. 2024 marks the 13th year of recognizing this important observance.
Crohn's Disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes pain and inflammation in the body's digestive system. This is a chronic condition with no known cure that can lead to debilitating pain or other life-threatening complications.
Colitis is similar; this disease results in inflammation in the large intestine or the colon. This can cause a number of problems and symptoms, such as dehydration, bloody stools, fever, and severe abdominal pain.
Although the focus is on Crohn's and Colitis, this awareness week recognizes everyone impacted by IBD. An estimated 1.6 million Americans live with these conditions, with 70,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
This December, you can show your support by donating to an IBD research foundation, volunteering to help those living with IBD, or spreading the word and raising awareness about these debilitating conditions.
National Influenza Vaccination Week
As colder weather settles in, so does flu season. Each year, influenza leads to approximately 200,000 hospitalizations and claims around 36,000 lives in the United States.
Flu activity typically begins in the fall and winter, peaking between December and February, making early December an ideal time to get vaccinated.
While anyone can contract the flu, certain groups—such as pregnant individuals, young children, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions—face a higher risk of developing severe complications.
The more people who get vaccinated, the less opportunity the virus has to spread. This helps protect vulnerable groups and reduces hospitalizations and fatalities.
In addition to National Influenza Vaccination Week, the first week of December is also National Handwashing Awareness Week, reminding us of the critical role hygiene plays in staying healthy and slowing the spread of germs.
Regular handwashing is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of viruses and keep public spaces cleaner. By practicing good hygiene and getting vaccinated, we can help reduce the impact of flu season.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Each year, on December 3rd, we celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The goal of this health day is to raise awareness of the challenges endured by the disabled community, and to encourage people to think critically about how we can create a more inclusive world.
Globally, an estimated 1.3 billion people—approximately 16% of the population—live with significant disabilities. These disabilities can vary greatly, ranging from physical impairments such as blindness, deafness, or the need for a wheelchair to intellectual disabilities.
In 2024, the theme is "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future." This year's goal is to help give disabled individuals the same opportunities as their peers, in hopes of raising awareness about the problems people with disabilities still face globally.
While some countries have made progress in building inclusive communities, much work remains to ensure equitable opportunities and quality of life for disabled individuals everywhere.
This December, you can show your support by engaging with social media communities, educating yourself on disability-related issues, or simply reaching out to someone in your life with a disability to let them know they are seen and valued. Small acts of connection and understanding can make a meaningful difference in creating a world where everyone feels safe, supported, and included.
Showing Your Support This December
The first step to helping those in need is dispelling the stigmas around life-threatening and altering conditions. When we normalize and humanize the individuals suffering, we are more able to talk about, help, and reform our ways to create an inclusive environment for those living with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
This December, you can show your support for an awareness month by sharing the word with friends and family, donating to a healthcare cause, and learning more about the impacts and risks of certain health conditions.
LTC News also offers educational resources on caregiving, long-term care, and Long-Term Care Insurance. You can look at the resources linked below to help guide you through your long-term care journey:
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What Is Long-Term Care? – Long-term care happens when an individual needs help with activities of daily living expected to last longer than 90 days. Anyone can need long-term care in their lifetimes for a variety of reasons, but why is learning about long-term care so important?
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The Long-Term Care Spectrum: From Independent Living to Skilled Nursing – There are various types of long-term care facilities and service options, running from living setups where individuals are completely independent to facilities that provide care around the clock.
If you or your loved one currently need long-term care and are struggling to find it, LTC News’s Care Directory may be able to help. Our tool can help you find high-quality long-term care facilities and caregiving services close to home.
