Spending time with friends and family during the holidays is always something to look forward to, but the holiday season isn’t exactly a relaxing time of year. The busyness of the holiday season, from shopping to parties to family get-togethers, can make managing your time as a caregiver extremely difficult, and when you have a loved one to care for, your own obligations can be neglected.
Wondering how you’ll get everything on your to-do list completed in time for the holidays? Try the following recommendations to help you with managing your time as a caregiver.
- Take advantage of online shopping. Standing in the long lines at the mall is always stressful this time of year, specifically when you have an older family member in your care. Online shopping can be carried out from almost anywhere, in the doctor’s office, before you’re going to bed while watching TV, etc., and is significantly less stressful than struggling through the large holiday crowds.
- Ask for help. Burnt out of gift wrapping? Too tired to finish signing holiday cards? Find a friend or family member who can help wrap gifts. Reserve an afternoon to visit, sip hot cocoa, and write out all of your holiday cards together with your senior family member assisting in whatever way possible.
- Don’t overdo it in the kitchen. Many people feel obligated to go overboard on food during the holiday season, but not everything on the table needs to be homemade. Select one or two selections for your holiday menu that you enjoy making from scratch, and utilize some microwavable or pre-made dishes to round out the table and save you some precious time.
Have you ever considered letting a professional caregiver help you with managing your time as a caregiver this holiday season? Not only can we run errands like picking up groceries, prepare nutritious meals, and help with gift wrapping and decorating the home, but we also love taking seniors out holiday shopping! Our caregivers are always available to make each day during the holiday season – and beyond – brighter and happier for the seniors we serve, while allowing family members to take necessary time away from their care responsibilities.
Providing care for someone you love during the holidays can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to stress you out. With Heaven at Home, the top provider of home care in University Park and the nearby areas, you’re never alone in your role as a caregiver. Call our home care team to schedule a free in-home meeting to learn more about the many ways we can help you and an older adult you love. From all of us at Heaven at Home, we wish you and your family the happiest of holidays and all the best in the coming year!