The hustle and bustle of the holiday season always brings with it presents, family time, and dozens of parties, obligations, and, let’s face it, stress. While we often find much to be joyful about during this time of year, it’s rarely considered relaxing. And when you combine caregiving for a loved one with all the shopping, family gatherings and parties, it can be downright exhausting.
If you’re a family caregiver who is wondering how you can possibly check off everything on your to-do list during the holidays, our Michigan home care team has the following tips to help reduce caregiver stress:
- Skip the mall and shop online! Buying gifts for family and friends is unavoidable this time of year, but what is avoidable are crowded shopping centers. Online shopping can be done from home, from your phone, at the salon, in the evening while watching TV, etc., and it’s much less stressful than fighting the massive holiday crowds.
- Enlist your own “Santa’s helper.” Too many gifts to wrap? A mountain of holiday cards to address and send? Find a family member or friend who can play Santa’s helper and divide and conquer your holiday chores. If the person you’re caring for can, have him or her help in any way that he or she is able.
- Take some shortcuts in the kitchen. Food is a big part of the holiday festivities, but not every dish on your table needs to be homemade. Make a couple of favorites from scratch, and then round out the menu with some microwavable or pre-made dishes.
Caregiving for an aging or disabled loved one during the holidays can be very stressful, but it doesn’t have to dampen your holiday spirit. With help from Compassionate Care Home Health Services, you’re never alone in your caregiving role. Our respite care services can help family caregivers find time to conquer their to-do lists, spend time with loved ones, and get some rest and relaxation. Contact us to learn more about how our dedicated home care in Saginaw, MI can help reduce caregiver stress during the holidays and throughout the year. Click here to see all of the locations we serve.