As if being a family caregiver wasn’t busy enough, the upcoming holiday season presents additional responsibilities that can feel overwhelming. You not only need to check off all of the usual holiday tasks, but you must also think about how to make sure your senior can actively participate in the festivities and still make this season enjoyable for yourself as well! Prioritizing the caregiver tips for the holidays on the to-do list below will help give you the energy and mindset to tackle the holiday season as a family caregiver.
Holiday To-Do List for Senior Caregivers
1. Prioritize Self-Care
To start, complete an assessment on yourself. Determine where you are emotionally, mentally, and physically each day. If you find that you are angry, frustrated, exhausted, confused, or experiencing any negative thoughts and feelings, address them before plunging ahead with your plans. Otherwise, that negativity will just keep piling up and weighing you down.
The first step is to acknowledge what you are feeling and prioritize your self-care. Take a walk, call a friend, let go of things you cannot control, and find a way to put your feelings in perspective.
Doing this can help you feel refreshed, more energized, and filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
2. Know That There is No Need for Perfection
If you are searching for caregiver tips for the holidays, this may be the most valuable one – there is no perfect holiday plan! The holidays are about a special time for the people you love to enjoy themselves and each other, and if your version of “joy” is only derived from addressing every possible detail and backup plan, your stress will be felt by those around you.
Be aware of the law of diminishing returns which states that, at a certain point, adding more effort will not add to any significant gains. In fact, it can diminish what you are trying to do – for others and yourself. The final destination of perfectionism is often an unhappy place. Release yourself from the quest for perfection and you and everyone around you will probably have a much better and more meaningful holiday season.
3. Simplify the Holidays
Holiday festivities don’t need to be elaborate, complex, or extravagant to be successful.
Determine early on if you are going to need help with your holiday to-do list. Can someone bring a food item? Pick up a gift? Take Mom to the doctor while you attend to holiday preparations?
Also, simplify the menu. If it’s just you and your aging loved ones, you don’t need three side dishes, four desserts, and an 18-pound turkey. Also, there are companies that will deliver Thanksgiving meals, including complete Thanksgiving dinners, to a person’s home.
4. Create New Traditions
As our loved ones age, our traditions don’t always look the same. It may no longer be possible for your senior to travel to a family member’s house, socialize for hours, or play lively games.
Think about what traditions are most important to you and your loved ones and how you can adjust them to meet your current needs. You can also consider starting new traditions that might be easier for your senior to participate in. Talk with them to find out how they would enjoy spending the holidays or if they have any fond memories of holiday activities from their childhood that you could recreate.
5. Gift Giving
Searching for holiday gifts can be modified with online shopping (some online stores will also gift wrap for you!) and home delivery. By utilizing these services, you won’t have to spend hours out shopping and can use your energy for caring for your senior or preparing for other holiday activities.
Take Care of Yourself this Holiday Season
During the holidays, it can be easy to neglect yourself when you are busy taking care of everyone else. You may tell yourself that you’ll rest, eat healthy foods, exercise, and get back to managing your physical and emotional health once the holidays are over, but that is not a good plan.
As a family caregiver, your senior adult is relying on you. Your family needs you and are concerned for your welfare. Neglecting your own needs not only harms you but it harms those who love you. They need you happy and healthy during the holidays and beyond. After all, it’s not about what you do during the holidays, it’s about spending quality time with those you love.
As you plan for this busy holiday season, don’t forget about making time for yourself. Bethesda can offer a helping hand. Whether you require short-term respite care for your senior loved one, or more ongoing support via our Care Management program, Bethesda is here to help. Contact us to learn more.
