Holiday Caregiver Tips from Principal Senior Living

The holidays are here and for many it is a time of joy and celebration.  But for millions of caregivers with trees to decorate, gifts to buy, cookies to bake, and traditions to uphold—the tasks can seem never ending when added to the daily stress of caregiving for a loved one.

There are many ways to simplify this time.  Accept your situation as it is—not the way it once was or they way you wish it would be.  Be in the moment with your loved one.
Here are some tips so that when you sing the traditional carols, there can be joy in your heart.  Make a list of essentials to be done and then delegate tasks to family members and friends.  People really do want to help.  They usually just need a little direction. 

Have realistic expectations.  Ask a friend or family member to pick up holiday goodies rather than baking them.  Put up fewer decorations.  This is an activity that you may be able to engage your loved one in which will help him or her have a sense of usefulness.  Integrating holiday activities into regular daily routine is the most successful approach. Use gift certificates—for the grocery store, pharmacy, book store or a favorite restaurant—to make gift giving easy.

To help maintain harmony, defer any serious discussion with family members about caregiving or the recipient until after the holidays. One way family members and friends who have not seen the care recipient for some time can engage is to use a memory box.  This is a simple activity to complete and it can be used many times throughout the holidays.  Simply wrap a box with holiday paper and put a few cherished items inside—a special card from long ago or a tree ornament that has significance, a favorite old family photo or a meaningful newspaper clipping—anything positive that can generate conversation with your loved one.

If your family member is in a residential community, join in the holiday celebrations.  Also plan on spending some quiet time reading a favorite holiday story or listening to much-loved carols. If your loved one is at home, provide a quiet space just for him or her to take a break from the festivities.  Overstimulation can be a problem so avoid the use of blinking lights or too many guests at a time.

Make arrangements for respite care for a day or two so you can enjoy some time with friends.  There is a lot of truth to “laughter is the best medicine”.  Remember you deserve the opportunity to wind down a bit. You might be surprised how much your family member enjoys being in a setting with structured activities. Ask a family member to stay with your loved one while you take an hour or two to attend a special holiday party or worship service.  

While you are caring for others, it is imperative to care for yourself.  Eat nutritional meals and try to not pig out on sweets—no matter how tempting.  Get adequate sleep and take a nap during the day if you need to make up for lost sleep at night. Regular exercise boosts energy and fights stress and depression. There are many sources on the internet to help you.  Do a Google search for “caregiving and the holidays” or contact your local Alzheimer’s Association.