12/05/2023
HOLIDAY TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS
This time of the year can be very stressful, as a caregiver – especially if you are care giving, taking care of your own family and preparing your own home for the holidays. It can seem as though things are spiraling out of control.
You need to take care of YOU, so you are able to care for everyone and everything else you are responsible for. Here are a few tips:
1. I happen to be a person who likes to send out Christmas cards. Sometimes, however, this can be overwhelming. If the thought of sending cards is overwhelming to you, make a list of your top family members and friends. Call them, wish them Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or whatever and let them know you are thinking about them. It doesn’t have to be a long phone call – and it can make you feel as good as sending them a card.
2. Take a hot bubble bath! Light a candle, take a cup of non caffeine tea with you and enjoy a nice, relaxing soak.
3. Read something nice. If you don’t have any “feel good” short stories or poems, look something up on line.
4. Listen to your favorite music in the car on the way home. I enjoy listening to Christmas music and crank it up loud. I make sure my windows are rolled up and you should hear me belt out “O Holy Night”. (On the other hand, you probably don’t want to hear me sing it!) However, it makes ME feel good – that’s what counts.
5. Buy a gift for a child or a person who would not ordinarily get a gift for Christmas. There are a lot of resources that take donations for this. Senior centers often have names of seniors who need gifts.
6. Choose a holiday movie to watch with your children or grandchildren. Serve hot cocoa and Christmas cookies. If you don’t have someone to watch with, make cocoa for yourself, get some Christmas cookies and enjoy the movie.
7. Go for a drive and look at Christmas decorations at night. There are a lot of neighborhoods that decorate and enjoy having people drive through thru their community. Some neighborhoods even collect canned or non perishable foods during this time of year.
8. Contact your local food bank to see what they need to put in Holiday dinners to give families and buy something to donate. Ask to donate the fixings for a Holiday meal to a family.
9. Go for a walk. If it is cold, bundle up – the fresh air is good for you. Exercise (walking) can improve your mental status.
10. If you don’t have family nearby and are alone for the Holidays, make a family!! Call others that you know that don’t have family in the area and plan your Holiday meal with them. Have each person bring a dish to contribute to the meal. Have each person bring a gift to exchange. Set a dollar limit, wrap the gift up nice and have fun.
11. If you attend church, your church might have a special service for the Christmas season. If you work and are not able to attend personally, many churches offer their services on line – after all, isn’t this what Christmas is about?
Beth Sprau
Wiser Home Care Services
