Most older adults hire a home care caregiver to assist with daily tasks, personal hygiene, or companionship. However, did you know that caregivers can provide significant support during the busy holiday season as well as throughout the year? Here at CaringGivers, we find that family members are even more stressed out and overwhelmed during the last month of the year. Our professional caregivers can step in and offer support and assistance that benefits the senior and their loved ones when the holiday hustle and bustle becomes too much.
Here are a few ways professional caregivers can help during the holidays, making the season sweeter and calmer for everyone.
Personal Care Prior to Events
Your aging loved one wants to look their best before Christmas Eve dinner or your family’s traditional cookie exchange party. However, it can be difficult for you or another sibling to run over to their home and help them shower, style their hair, put on a special outfit, and do their makeup. This is where a professional caregiver can help.
Professional caregivers are trained to encourage independence while still assisting seniors with personal care tasks. Have one come over a few hours before a family event and that caregiver will work with your aging loved one to get them looking their very best. Your senior loved one will feel confident as they head out to enjoy time with family.
Maintaining Favorite Traditions
Adult children and other family members are extra busy during the holiday season. Between your child’s holiday concert and the looming deadlines at work, you might not have the extra time to ensure that your loved one is getting a true taste of the season. A professional caregiver can step in to maintain those favorite traditions for your loved one.
A professional caregiver can help out with holiday tasks, including your loved one every step of the way:
- Pulling out and decorating the Christmas tree
- Making a shopping list and looking online for gift ideas
- Wrapping gifts
- Sending out Christmas cards or notes
- Reading incoming Christmas cards or notes
- Baking a holiday treat
- Making popcorn and watching a favorite holiday movie
Companionship visits are especially helpful this time of year, as they allow the caregiver and senior to experience the best parts of the holiday together. Even if it is enjoying a cup of cocoa and watching the snow fall, it can be helpful to know that your loved one isn’t feeling lonely or isolated during this busy season.
Transportation
Finally, your loved one might need to attend special events around town, whether a family dinner or a coffee meet-up with a church group. In any case, a professional caregiver can not only transport your loved one to and from their destination, but they can also accompany them throughout the event in case they need extra support or assistance. Professional caregivers are discreet and will preserve the dignity of your loved one; they are also quite charming and will certainly be a positive addition to any gathering!
Give Yourself a Break
It is challenging to juggle the obligations of the holidays with your obligations as a family caregiver. This season, especially, give yourself a break and some much-needed respite. Professional caregivers are there to support your senior loved one, but you’ll reap the benefits just as much as your loved one will!
Respite care is designed to give family caregivers a break. You might need a few hours to go holiday shopping, wrap gifts, or attend a work dinner. Or, you might need a few days so you can get out of town on a well-deserved holiday vacation. In any case, respite care ensures a professional caregiver is there to pick up your caregiving load. It’s a wonderful way to introduce home care to your loved one and for your loved one to begin building a meaningful relationship with a professional caregiver.
If you’re looking for some extra support this holiday season and beyond, contact us at CaringGivers. We’d love to learn more about your situation and create a care plan for your loved one.