The Most Helpful Tips for Dementia Caregivers

March 19, 2019 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

Caring for someone with dementia is not an easy job. You must have nerves of steel, a heart of gold, and the ability to laugh even when things are at their worst. If you’re providing care to a loved one with dementia, they will likely never be able to express their gratitude to you for doing such an important job. Help for caregivers of dementia patients is not always readily available, and this is where you may need to rely on some helpful tips for dementia caregivers in order to maintain your own health and still feel your best, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

The Most Important and Helpful Tips for Dementia Caregivers

Most likely, you’re not a professional caregiver and this is your first time caring for a parent with dementia at home (or another loved one). Even professional dementia caregivers struggle and have bad days, but the most important of all helpful tips for dementia caregivers is to:

Keep a positive mood. Just as you would care for a child with special needs, everything from your tone to your body language must be light and positive. Be pleasant and peaceful in all interactions, even if your patient is having a bad day.

If your loved one is indeed having a bad day, there are some more helpful tips for dementia caregivers to remember:

Redirect and distract. This may be similar to a young child who is throwing a tantrum. Redirection is key—try to get the person’s mind away from the thing they are focusing on, and replace this fixation with something else.
There is a reason for all behavior. Every form of behavior from every human being on earth, regardless of medical condition, is a form of communication. If what the person is trying to say with their actions isn’t clear to you, do your best to try to figure it out. When in doubt, you can always confer with their doctor. The patient may be on a new medication or may be in pain from a different medical problem.
Find different strategies. One of the most helpful tips for dementia caregivers is finding different solutions to the same problem. Dementia is hard to predict—something that works well for your patient today may fail tomorrow. Come up with multiple strategies to help get through the tough spots.

More Important and Helpful Tips for Dementia Caregivers

Part of how you will deal with dementia affecting your loved one is to understand their world. Acceptance of the situation is the first way to relieve dementia caregiver stress. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer dementia, and the most important thing (which is your job as a dementia caregiver) is to make the person’s quality of life more comfortable. This can be difficult when the patient is experiencing an alternate reality. With that in mind, some more helpful tips for dementia caregivers include:

Don’t argue. Don’t try to win an argument or convince the other person that you’re correct about something.
Validate their reality. If the patient has “gone back in time” and is now a little girl waiting for the school bus, talk about the school bus. Engage in conversation as if what they are describing is real.
Try cognitive-based games or exercising. Even in a patient with dementia, it is still possible to get them to exercise their brain and engage in physical activity. Urge them to do both, if possible.
Slow down and be communicative. Talk as slowly as possible, especially if you’re trying to explain something difficult. Also, if one method of communication doesn’t work, try another, like nonverbal communication.

Take Care of Yourself

The effects of dementia on caregivers can be brutal. You may be tired, lonely, and angry. You may feel frustrated and sad. In addition to helpful tips for dementia caregivers when it comes to interaction with the patient, you should also follow helpful tips for dementia caregivers when it comes to taking care of you. Some of these include:

Take a day off if possible and do something nice for yourself. Buy yourself something you really like, treat yourself to a spa day, or go for a mini-road trip. If a full day isn’t possible, then take your time off in increments. Even a 20-minute break from caregiving can give you a fresh start.
Talk to others. Some days, you may find you are only talking to the dementia patient and their other health staff. Get out and be social with other people. This can definitely include a dementia caregivers support group, so you can touch base with other people who understand.
Pick your battles and choose your priorities. A big part of being peaceful as you perform this job is not to sweat the small stuff. If you’re having racing thoughts or are having trouble prioritizing tasks, write them down and organize them.

It is important to remember that quality of life is still possible for the dementia patient, for you, and for the other members of your family during this time, especially if these helpful tips for dementia caregivers are followed. For more helpful tips on being in a caregiver role, or to learn about mobility products that may even further a patient’s quality of life, contact Williams Lift Co. today.

Caregivers Need Care Too: Caregiver Burnout Prevention

February 12, 2019 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

It is estimated that over 40 million adults care for parents, grandparents, or another adult whom they live with. Being a caregiver is one of the most important and selfless things a person can do, and it can be truly hard on the caregiver. The stress and toll that being a caregiver has on the body, mind, and overall well being often leads to caregiver burnout. Caregiver burnout syndrome is a real thing. Once that point is reached, it may be difficult to be in your role as caregiver, and even more difficult to take care of yourself, your job, and other family needs. Caregiver burnout prevention is a must to ensure your loved one gets the care they need but also requires that you take care of yourself as well.

Caregiver Burnout Prevention: Knowing the Signs

Perhaps you are so busy taking care of your loved one that you don’t even fully feel the stress you’re under. Or, you are feeling levels of stress and frustration, but aren’t even sure how to go about alleviating the pressure you’re under. One of the most important aspects of caregiver burnout prevention is knowing the signs of caregiver burnout. Some of these signs can mimic symptoms of depression, so it may be tough to tell. Family caregiver burnout signs include:

Loss of interest in things once enjoyed
Lack of energy/fatigue
Sleep issues (oversleeping or insomnia)
Being unusually agitated, impatient, or lashing out
Anxiety (more than usual)
Hopelessness and dread
Weight gain or weight loss (sudden)
Headaches or GI upset
A proclivity to catching colds or illness (weak immune system)

If you read through the signs of caregiver burnout and silently are saying in your head, “check, check, check,” then it’s time to learn about caregiver burnout prevention and treatment. If you’re deep in experiencing the signs of burnout, part of the goal is to get yourself out of it, and treat the problem so it does not recur.

Caregiver Burnout Prevention and Treatment

One of the first things to do for caregiver stress and burnout is to ask for help. If you ask family and friends and there is simply no one to help you on a weekly basis for a few hours, respite care is something you should look into immediately. Depending on the circumstances, it is often covered by insurance or Medicare.

You may also often hear, “take care of yourself first.” While this is a top tip for caregiver burnout prevention, you may not even know what this entails. It means that you need to give yourself permission to take breaks, to schedule something nice for yourself once in a while (spa visit, catch a movie with some friends), and to put your needs first whenever possible. If you don’t put yourself first, at some point it will become impossible to take care of someone else. Help for caregiver burnout begins mainly with you putting yourself first

Other Tips for Caregiver Burnout Prevention

No matter where you fall on the caregiver burnout scale, diving feet-first into caregiver burnout prevention is the best idea for you and your family. Another great tip when it comes to caregiver burnout prevention is to join a support group. There are many out there, both online and in-person, that gives you the opportunity to talk about some of the things that bother you most with other people that understand. Recovering from caregiver burnout is much easier with the help of others who understand.

Another good idea when it comes to caregiver burnout prevention is to learn to communicate effectively. If you are taking care of someone who also has staff attending to them (such as visiting nurses, therapists, and other family members), you may want to consider a site such as CaringBridge or PostHope to post updates about the patient’s progress. This way, you are not relying on long texts and phone calls that tie you up and prevent you from doing other things. For instance, if your dad’s surgery went well, you can post a quick update to CaringBridge and everyone following the page immediately has the information they need. While this sounds like a minor detail, a big part of caregiver burnout prevention is eliminating the unnecessary things from your day. Some days, you just won’t have the time to talk to everyone.

As a caregiver, if you’re looking for even more ideas to make your life simpler, there are many mobility products that can help. Contact Williams Lift Co. today for more information about stair lifts, ramps, and other needs that can make your role as caregiver less of a burden.

The Many Challenges of Being a Caregiver

February 1, 2019 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

Whether you’re dedicating your time to someone in your family or are a professional caregiver, caregiving can be stressful. “Caregiver burnout” is a real issue, and many caregivers hit the wall after months or years of dedicating themselves to another person’s care. It’s extremely important for caregivers to be able to recognize and identify the challenges that lead to burnout. And it’s equally important to learn strategies to cope with and combat the challenges of being a caregiver, so that you can continue to give care at all.

Specific Caregiver Stress Levels and Stressors

If you’re just embarking on caregiving, you may feel a sense of “I’ve got this,” or “How bad can it be?” Depending on the amount of care a disabled or elderly person may need, caregiving takes not just a physical toll, but also an emotional and mental toll, particularly if someone close to you is in poor health. There are many challenges of being a caregiver.

Some specific caregiver stress points include:

Time management: There are many challenges in caring for the elderly, and this is at the top of the list. It can be incredibly difficult to take care of yourself and your own family (such as your children) when much of your attention is directed elsewhere. If possible, try to write out a weekly time plan and adhere to it.
Taking care of your own self: Self care is one of the main challenges of being a caregiver. Beyond scheduling “me” time (spa, gym, date night, weekend getaway), you have to remember to put your own health first. You can’t take care of someone else if you’re emotionally or physically sick.

The reality of depression: The fact is, many caregivers hit caregiver burnout because they’re depressed, and there isn’t always a lot of caregiver support out there. Just as if you broke a leg or had a cold that wouldn’t go away, make an appointment to see your doctor if you feel symptoms of depression, or have symptoms that are worsening. Don’t be afraid to ask for help yourself.

How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout

You may have all of the best intentions of making weekly schedules and allowing time for yourself, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen, and that’s okay. There are still steps you can take to avoid burnout,

Try to get as much sleep as possible. Getting enough sleep is one of the many challenges of being a caregiver, and it should be one of your top priorities. Even if you find yourself giving up some “fun” things to catch up on sleep, your body will thank you. And with a good night’s sleep, you’ll have plenty of time and energy for fun things later on.

Try meditation or find ways to relax. You may have caregiver stress ranging from financial problems to sadness over seeing a loved one very ill. Realities like these can disquiet the mind and compound any existing anxiety or depression. The problem itself may not go away, but how you look at the problem can be altered. In addition to finding caregiver support groups in your area, it’s also a great idea to find a group that practices mindfulness and meditation (or both).

Look for support. One of the many challenges of being a caregiver is going it alone. Right now, you may be the sole person providing the majority of support for your family, and that means you will need support, as well. Look for caregiver support groups in your area. If you come up empty-handed, look for social media or other online groups, so you have a private place to vent and speak your mind.

Caregiver burnout can happen to anyone, whether you’re a professional or you’re caring for a member of your family. But, it’s also good to remember that a separate challenge of caregiving is going through all the stages of grief. As you find yourself experiencing denial or anger, just remember that it’s okay to feel these feelings, and it is completely normal to go through the process. There are many challenges of being a caregiver, but many rewards as well.

For mobility products for the elderly and disabled that can help make life easier as a caregiver, contact the company who cares, Williams Lift Co. With over 71 years in the mobility products industry, we understand your needs.

What is Adult Day Care?

October 25, 2018 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

It’s a question that you ponder about when you are taking care of your loved ones. Adult day care seems scary and also seems like it is a step above putting someone into a nursing home. This is not the case, however; it can be relieving to both the caretaker and the loved one to have a program to assist families with this transition.

Similar to child day care, adult day care is a type of program that looks after an adult while caretakers are out at work, completing errands, or other tasks. There are many programs that fulfill this basic function but there are different types of programs that provide specific types of care to the adult who needs them.

What are the Benefits of Adult Day Care?

Research is increasing that adult day care is an option that provides the perfect blend of mental and physical activity to clients who need supervision during the daytime hours. For some clients, it can bring the best of both care situations: living at home while also receiving the medical attention they need throughout the day without interrupting family life. Adult day care is an option that gives some relief to both clients and their families since they know that the client is safe with professional staff and allows the family members to stave off caretaker stress.

Programs hosted at adult day centers also give the benefit of a guaranteed routine for the client, allowing your loved one to feel more at ease while completing this major life transition. Senior depression is more common than most people anticipate, which can go hand in hand with caregiver fatigue. Adult day care is a resource that is a win-win for everyone; it gives seniors some much needed social time, and caregivers some worry-free time off.

What Does an Adult Day Care Program Look Like?

Adult day care centers can have programs that vary but they all share the same goal: consistency. A typical schedule can look like this:

8 AM to 9 AM – Breakfast
9 AM to 10 AM – Discussions (can be political or religious in nature, confirm with the program ahead of time to find the right fit for your loved ones)
10 AM-12 PM – Planned activities
12 PM-1 PM – Lunch
1 PM- 2 PM – Resting Period
2 PM-3:30 PM – Planned activities
3:30 PM-5 PM- Games and Puzzles
5 PM – Pickup

The kinds of programming can, again, differ from center to center. Some centers might have a partnership with a local child care center, creating activities that enrich both the seniors and the children. Some centers allow seniors to complete some household chores like cooking and gardening, which can bring back not only their sense of purpose, but might help them regain some strength to complete some activities with greater independence.

What are the Types of Adult Day Care?

There are different types of adult day care: senior care and adult social care. While they are similar, senior care can bring more to the table depending on the need of the client and caregiver. If you ever feel lost with deciding what is right for you and your family, the local aging office has the information you need to make the right decision.

Senior Care

Senior care is adult day care focused on helping elderly people day to day at a center. This type of program gives supervision to seniors and assists families with addressing medical concerns. It also provides a layer of socialization for the seniors.

Adult Social Care

Similar to senior care, this type of adult day care is focused more on social programs that can bring adults of all ages, disabilities, and levels of need together to encourage friendship. While a family caregiver can be loving and attentive to the needs of the person, there is a need to increase the social connection outside of the home. The family provides a special kind of bond but friends can also help the family and person handle the changes in their life.

There is an increasing number of studies that indicate loneliness as a major contributor to the decline in senior health. Both of these types of adult day care programs help connect seniors to their own age group and may result in a friendship that can have health benefits for everyone.

In Conclusion: What is Adult Day Care?

Adult day care is the loving option that gives everyone the best of what they need. Seniors can find friendships and a return to activities under supervision while caregivers can conduct day-to-day tasks. It also provides a safe and supporting environment for loved ones.

Here at Williams Lifts, we provide you with the tools to make your home more comfortable for you or your loved one. Contact us today to learn more!

How Caregivers for Seniors Can Also Take Care of Themselves

June 30, 2018 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

As caregivers for seniors know, this type of job is not a one-time thing. It can often go on for months or years at a time.

Caregivers for seniors, especially caregivers for elderly parents and caregivers for seniors with dementia, can quickly find themselves drained mentally and emotionally. It’s stressful work, to be sure, and usually, there’s no one to look after the caregiver except the caregiver themselves.

It’s important to look after your own well-being so you can continue providing care for others to the best of your ability. In this article, I will go over some advice that caregivers for seniors can use to take care of their mental and emotional well-being.

Taking Care of Caregivers for Seniors

Taking care of yourself doesn’t just mean staying physically healthy, it means staying mentally healthy as well. It’s easy to prioritize the former over the latter, or not even consider mental health a priority at all. Well, the truth is, when mental health suffers then it affects your ability to function in other areas of life.

One of the best things you can do to maintain good mental health is to be present — that means focusing on the here and now. Caregivers for seniors can often find themselves thinking about too many things at any given time.

What has to be done today?
What has to be done tomorrow?
What has to be done next week? Next month?
What am I doing well?
What am I not doing well enough?
Am I doing all I can possibly do for this person?

There are so many things to think about that it can make your head spin. All of it is important, certainly, but let’s try narrowing it down a bit. Just as your body has a finite amount of physical energy for a single day, it has a finite amount of mental and emotional energy as well. Worrying about things too far down the road will drain the amount of mental energy you have to focus on what needs to be done today.

With that said, caregivers for seniors can do themselves a favor by directing their mental energy toward solving today’s problems. Try worrying less about what needs to be done in the future or conjuring up “what if” scenarios. The person you’re caring for is counting on you to be there for them in the moment, which starts by putting your head in the right place.

Caregivers for seniors should also get in the habit of giving themselves more credit. It’s okay to pat yourself on the back from time to time and recognize when you’ve done a good job. In fact, I encourage it. Not everything is going to go exactly right all the time, but for every little thing that goes wrong, I’m sure there are at least 50 big things you’ve done right.

Again, this goes back to being in the moment. Don’t beat yourself up about something that went wrong yesterday, stay focused on doing the best you can today. Changing your way of thinking can go a long way, and these are just a few things that can help strengthen your mental and emotional well-being.

While you’re here, please also see our guide to home modifications for seniors, which discusses resources such as stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, and power recliners.

Local Office of Aging: A Source for Funding and Resources

March 30, 2018 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

As a follow-up to our article on Medicare and whether it will cover the cost of stairlifts and wheelchair ramps, we’d like to bring attention to another potential source of funding. We’ve recently learned that some of our customers are receiving grants through the local office of aging. In this article, we will go into more detail about what an office of aging is, and how you can get in touch with the office closest to you.

What is a Local Office of Aging?

A local area agency on aging, also referred to as a local office of aging, is responsible for ensuring seniors, people with disabilities, and their caregivers have access to long-term services and supports. An office on aging in NJ is also responsible for developing a coordinated system of community-based activities for older adults in each of NJ’s 21 counties.

Seniors and individuals with disabilities can turn to their local office of aging as a central source for information and referral for services and programs. Office of aging services include:

Preparing an Area Plan on Aging: This includes an analysis of individuals’ needs and which services exist to satisfy those needs. A plan is then developed for delivering needed services to seniors.
Acting on Area Plan on Aging: After analyzing the Area Plan on Aging, an office of aging will advise local governments and the Division of Aging and Community Services of unmet needs. It will also recommend legislation if deemed appropriate.
Administering Allocation of Funds: An office of aging administers the annual allocation of federal funds from the Older American Act and state funds from the New Jersey Division of Aging and Community Services. Funding goes toward projects and services within the county.
Post-Funding Evaluation: Monitoring and evaluating projects funded under the Area Plan on Aging.
Advocacy: An office of aging serves as an advocate to increase public understanding of the nature of aging individuals and the aging process.

Now that you know what an office of aging does, let’s discuss what it’s like visit an office of aging and procure services.

Visiting a Local Office of Aging

When visiting an office of aging you will be paired with a caring professional to manage your individual case. A case manager will work with you to provide assessment, guidance, counseling, information, and referral.

In addition to seeking funding for mobility equipment, seniors can visit their county’s office of aging to locate resources for any of the following services:

Adult Day Care
Home-Delivered Meals
Statewide Respite Services
Legal Services
Residential Maintenance
Caregiver Assistance Services
Transportation
Home Care Services
Housing Assistance
Senior Center
Adult Protective Services

Each of NJ’s 21 counties has its own office of aging. Contact information can be found by navigating to the official website of your county and looking for the Department of Human Services. If you don’t see “office on aging” it may also be referred to as “division of intergenerational services,” “division of senior services,” or “division on aging.”

If you have received funding through your office on aging, please contact Williams Lifts to see how we can help.

National Family Caregiver Support Program: An Overview of Services Available

February 15, 2018 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

The National Family Caregiver Support Program is dedicated to assisting caregivers with grants and funding so they can care for older adults in their home as long as possible. It has been around since 2000, and funding is allocated to states based on their share of the population age 70 and over.

Caregivers can turn to the National Family Caregiver Support Program when they need help with:

Acquiring information about how to be a family caregiver
Gaining access to services
Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training
Respite care
Supplemental service

Services provided by the National Family Caregiver Support Program have been shown to reduce caregiver depression, anxiety, and stress thereby extending the length of their care.

Who is Eligible for the National Family Caregiver Support Program?

Specific types of caregivers are eligible to receive services through the NFCSP, as of the 2016 Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. They include:

Caregivers, including adult family members, providing care to individuals 60 years of age and older.
Caregivers, including adult family members, providing care to individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Non-parent relatives age 55 and older providing care to children under the age of 18
Parents and relatives, age 55 and older, providing care to adults ages 18-59 with disabilities.

In order to receive access to available programs and services, family caregivers of elderly are asked to present their unique needs to the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Available programs and services vary among states and communities. The most frequently requested services include:

Access Assistance Services: Helps caregivers locate services from a variety of private and voluntary agencies.
Counseling and Training Services: Provides caregivers with counseling, peer support groups, and family caregiver training to help cope with the stress that comes with caregiving.
Respite Care Services: Provides temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities, either at home or in an institutional setting.

Services provided by the NFCSP have proven to be effective at helping older adults live at home longer. Caregivers who have received access to services report that the services helped them to become a better caregiver— being able to provide care for a longer period of time than would have been possible otherwise.

In Summary

There is no denying that being a family caregiver is a tough job, but it doesn’t have to be done alone. Support programs and services exist in every state because it’s necessary to care for the caregivers as well. Selfless caregivers are honored every year during national family caregiver’s month, but rest assured that support is offered year-round.

Looking after a caregiver’s well-being is of the utmost importance because a healthy caregiver means the care recipient can stay in their own home for up to three times longer. Never neglect your own self-care in the pursuit of caring for loved ones, because your physical and mental health can affect theirs as well. Help exists for a reason.

If you found this article helpful, you might also appreciate our article on self-care tips for caregivers.

National Family Caregivers Month 2017: Caregiving Around the Clock

November 1, 2017 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

November is National Family Caregivers Month, which is a month dedicated to recognizing and honoring family caregivers across the nation.

Every year a different theme is selected for National Family Caregivers Month by the Caregiver Action Network. The theme for 2017 is “Caregiving Around the Clock.”

National Family Caregivers Month was established to:

Raise awareness of issues that are unique to family caregivers
Celebrate the hard work of family caregivers
Drum up support for family caregivers
Educate family caregivers on how to take care of themselves.

The theme of “Caregiving Around the Clock” recognizes those who make caregiving a 24/7 job. For some individuals, the job of being a caregiver never ends, such as those who provide care to seniors with Alzheimer’s or children with special needs.

Here are a number of eye-opening family caregivers statistics about those who provide care non-stop — or ‘around the clock’ if you will.

National Family Caregivers Month: Family Caregivers Statistics

Over 90 million Americans are family caregivers, with a large number having to provide care on a 24/7 basis.

Family caregivers are, on average, working mothers of school-aged children. This can make life difficult to balance, as they have to juggle work responsibilities with caregiving responsibilities.

It can be so difficult to balance that family caregivers often have to cut back on their hours at work, take unpaid leave, or even quit jobs completely.

Six out of ten family caregivers work either full-time or part-time jobs in addition to providing care to their loved one.

One of the greatest challenges faced by family caregivers, which most people don’t consider, is managing medications.

Being a family caregiver means much time is spent managing medications. Statistics show the family caregiver is the one managing medications 70% of the time, and perhaps, even more, depending on the severity of the condition.

Since medication is something that has to be taken throughout the day, managing a loved one’s meds can be an around the clock job in and of itself.

Family Caregivers Support

Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but we must also recognize the potential risks of being an all-day caregiver. This can include stress, poor health, and burnout.

With one of the goals of family caregivers month being to educate caregivers on how to better themselves, the Caregiver Action Network (CAN) has some specific recommendations for around the clock care providers.

Nutrition is key to maintaining the strength, energy, and positivity required to provide all-day care. Caregivers should always set aside time to enjoy a good meal.

Moreover, CAN reminds caregivers to take time for themselves in general. It helps to rest and recharge in order to provide the same level of care day in and day out.

When a caregiver is in good health, the care recipient can stay in their own home up to three times longer.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that family caregivers should be honored year-round, but at the very least take time throughout the month of November to recognize and celebrate these individuals who dedicate their lives to providing care around the clock.

Holiday Tips for Caregivers

December 15, 2016 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

Holiday tips for caregivers can never be too plentiful this time of year. Additional stress and demands are placed on caregivers during the holidays, not only from clients but from the caregivers themselves.

As a caregiver, there’s a tendency to feel as though you need to keep doing more, which could lead to you pushing yourself to a point where it starts to become detrimental to your own health.

We have put together a list of holiday tips for caregivers that are intended to help you de-stress and even enjoy what the season has to offer.

Top Holiday Tips for Caregivers

Avoid Burnout With Time Management
This may be difficult with the many holiday parties and social gatherings going on, but try not to schedule too many events one day after another. Give yourself time to rest when you feel like you need it. This may mean having to miss some events, but in the long run, you’ll be doing what’s best for yourself.

It’s also important to be mindful of the one you’re caring for and their stress levels. Watch for and take note of any changes in personality or behavior. Unusual irritability and fatigue are key signs of holiday burnout. Keep their schedule light during the holidays, and don’t feel guilty about having to turn down the occasional invite from a friend or family member.

Don’t Let Shopping Create Stress
Shopping is an unavoidable expectation of the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful one. Simplify the process by buying online from the comfort of your own home whenever possible. If you have multiple friends and family members to buy for but are not sure what to get them, there’s no rule against getting them all the same thing. Find a great gift basket that anyone would enjoy, and buy one for multiple people on your list instead of stressing about what to buy for each individual person.

Don’t Try to Do Everything / Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
In past years you may have worked yourself to the bone preparing Christmas dinner for the one you’re caring for and up to 20 or so guests. Try to start a new tradition by getting others involved in the process, or perhaps having guests bring their own dishes potluck-style. At the very least, do not be afraid to ask for help when you genuinely need it. You’re only capable of so much, and friends and family members are usually more than happy to lend a hand during the holiday season.

Do Something Good For Yourself
Whether you realize it or not, as a caregiver you’re so busy meeting others’ needs that you end up neglecting your own. Enjoy a completely self-indulgent treat this season to reward yourself for the hard work you’ve been putting in not only during the holidays but all year long. Think about what you’ve been longing for — maybe it’s a day at the spa, or laying in bed all day binge-watching Netflix. Whatever it is, do “you” for a full day because you deserve it.

Conclusion

Effective time management can avoid stress and holiday burnout. Streamlining the shopping experience can lead to a much more pleasant season. Ask for help when necessary, and top off the season by doing something good for yourself. If you have additional holiday tips for caregivers, please share them in the comment box below.

How to Manage Stress to Avoid Caregiver Burnout

October 14, 2012 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

If you are currently caring for a disabled spouse, friend, or family member, then you know how tough it can be. Even though you may be focused on providing high quality care, it’s important that you spend some time to care for yourself, too.

In this short video from CaregiversTrainingVideos.com, we get a look at how caregivers can avoid “caregiver burnout.” Perhaps the best way to reduce stress is to hire a team of caregivers to help you with various tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing.