The holidays are meant to be one of the most joyous times of the year. However, as a caregiver to an older parent or family member, they might also be one of the most stressful. In addition to your regular caregiving responsibilities, you have decorations to hang up, gift shopping to complete, dinner parties to attend and so much more.
We know how challenging it can be for family caregivers during the holidays. To help, we’ve created this guide to caring for loved ones during the holidays.
Understanding Holiday Stress and Its Impact on Caregiving
Why do the holidays put stress on families caring for loved ones? Read about the impact of the holidays on caregiving below.
Increasing Responsibilities
If you care for a parent or loved one with an illness like dementia, you know that the condition is progressive. Perhaps a couple of years ago, your loved one could walk comfortably around the house, while now they need assistance. This means in addition to making holiday preparations, hosting dinner or taking care of the kids, you’ll need extra time and effort to care for your loved one, which can be overwhelming.
Tough Conversations
With the family all together, it can be tempting to try and squeeze in all necessary conversations during the holiday period. While communicating and expressing ourselves is essential, some conversations might be a little more challenging — do we need to get Mom a caregiver? Will Dad manage on his own for much longer? Who should be the power of attorney? These are just a few questions that can increase tensions and anxiety levels during the holiday season.
Needing a Break
Many people look forward to the holidays because they get to rest. A couple of weeks off after a long year of working hard is sometimes all you need to recharge physically and mentally. However, when you’re the primary family caregiver to a loved one, there is often no “time off.” You need to care for them throughout the year, which may take a toll on you.
Caring for Loved Ones During the Holidays: 5 Key Tips
The holiday season can still be a happy time for you and your family. Here are some strategies to help.
1. Manage Your Expectations
If you’re planning winter activities while caring for a parent or family member, you’ll want to be realistic about what’s possible. For example, if your loved one gets easily tired or overstimulated, they may not be excited about a full day of activities.
In this situation, you and your family members can decide what’s most important. An intimate dinner with close family or scaling the activities down to a couple of hours maximum can be a simple yet effective strategy to relieve the pressure on you as the family caregiver while also making the day more manageable for your loved one.
2. Prioritize Your Emotional Well-Being
According to the American Psychological Association, family caregiving can lead to many challenges, such as:
- Loneliness.
- Fatigue and sleep issues.
- Financial constraints.
- Reduced quality of life.
- Relationship stress.
Witnessing changes in a loved one cannot be easy, especially if you were once close. This is why taking care of yourself is essential. During the holidays, this might mean:
- Communicating your needs to your other loved ones.
- Practicing self-compassion.
- Taking some time for yourself to relax and do activities you enjoy.
- Reducing stress by practicing mindfulness activities like journaling or meditation.
3. Create New Traditions
It’s common for families to have holiday season traditions that everyone looks forward to. However, if your parent or loved one has limited mobility or gets easily overwhelmed, some traditions may no longer be feasible.
Instead, look for traditions you can realistically incorporate into your holiday plans and that everyone can participate in. This might include:
- Decorating the tree together.
- Taking family photos.
- Decorating gingerbread houses.
While changing how you’ve always done things may be disheartening, remember that spending time together is the goal, regardless of the activity.
4. Be Flexible With Routines
A significant part of successful caregiving is developing a routine. Daily tasks like grooming, eating, resting or taking walks help give you and your loved one structure, which can help reduce the anxiety of not knowing what to expect.
While structure is essential, things don’t always go according to plan, especially during the holidays. Being flexible requires you to:
- Communicate respectfully: If you’ve scheduled a family activity but your loved one feels like sleeping, respect their decision and thank them for being honest with you.
- Be prepared for your loved one’s mood changes: If your loved one has dementia or another illness that affects their emotions, their mood can quickly change, and they may not want to participate in a planned activity. Have a plan B where, perhaps, a family member stays with your loved one while the activities continue for the rest of the family.
- Focus on what’s important: At the end of the day, your family is your focus. Going out together and participating in various activities can certainly be fun. However, if the situation doesn’t allow that, instead of being hard on yourself, focus on the fact that having your loved ones around is a true blessing.
5. Build a Supportive Network
It can be challenging to bear the weight of caring for your loved one. Your support system can help you prevent caregiver burnout, and you can build this system from close family and friends. Reach out to them in advance and discuss practical ways to share the responsibility of caring for your loved one during the holidays.
Respite care services also offer an excellent way to manage holiday caregiving. In a nutshell, this is short-term relief for primary caregivers. It allows you to rest, travel or do some self-care. You can contact respite care service companies, and they will bring in a qualified person to care for your loved one in the comfort of their home.
Allow Village Caregiving to Care for Your Loved One During the Holidays
We hope the above strategies will help you effectively care for your loved one and yourself during the holidays. If you need respite care services for the holiday season — or any other time — Village Caregiving can help.
Respite care services can be an effective way to recharge while knowing your loved one is well taken care of. By choosing this service, you’re selecting to partner with a team that prioritizes trust and accountability. With Village Caregiving, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your parent or family member is in good hands this holiday season. Contact us today to learn more about our respite care services.
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