5 Tips for Family Caregivers During the Holidays

Posted on November 26th, 2007 by AGIS Staff

Gift shopping, cooking, decorating, holiday caroling and you’re a family caregiver! The holidays alone are enough to stress anyone, but add on top of it the stress of caring for your loved one and your life can get hectic during this busy season. Here’s five tips to help keep you sane this December.

1. Keep Decorations Low-Key. Blinking lights can confuse some people, so opt for non-blinking instead. Try not to move furniture around or have power cords stretched out where someone might be able to trip.

2. Keep Visits Short. “Two hours, perhaps, but not five hours,” Myron Weiner, MD, professor of psychiatry and of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

3. Delegate Help. Gary Barg, author of The Fearless Caregiver: How to Get the Best Care for Your Loved One and Still Have a Life of Your Own, says “The caregiver should realize he or she is the CEO of “Taking Care of Momma, Inc.” Like any CEO, that caregiver has to delegate. “We don’t have to shoulder the whole burden,” he says.

4. Give Suggestions for Gifts for You and Your Loved One. Many people don’t realize what gifts you want or need while being a caregiver. Don’t be afraid to mention wish items (like gift cards, home repairs, or a promise for help during the year). Also recommend gifts that are suitable for your care recipient. Some suggestions are scented soaps or sachets, tapes or CDs, or photographs in frames.

5. Share Memories. The holidays can be a time for stress amongst family members. A great way to de-stress is to share stories, things that make you laugh or things you appreciate about your loved ones. If possible, videotape or record your family telling stories. This will be a treasured item as the year progresses.

For More Holiday Tips Check Out these Resources:

Caregiving: Help for the Holidays

Holiday Survival Guide

Family Caregiving and the Holidays

Related Posts from Carestation

5 Family Caregiver Tips to Turn the Holidays from Stressful to Successful!

Holiday Hints & Tips for Caregivers

Caregiving and the Holiday

More Resources from AGIS.com

Caregiver Self Assessment

http://www.agis.com/Document/5/caregiver-self-assessment.aspx

The Caregiver Kit