HOLIDAY HELP FOR CAREGIVERS
Six ways to make this season a little more merry
For caregivers this time of year, traditional holiday preparations may be just one more drain on their already dwindling energy stores.
“Work-life balance can be challenging for caregivers at the best of times, and when the holiday season comes around, it’s even more so,” says Jessica McGeough, a care solutions specialist at Elizz, a newly-launched brand for family caregivers.
Caregivers often neglect their own personal well-being in an effort to pull off a picture-perfect holiday. But it doesn’t have to be that way. McGeough and caregiver Dina Theodoropoulos, a Toronto interior designer who assists her aging parents on a daily basis, offer the following advice to help caregivers make the holiday season a little more joyful:
1. Be clear about your priorities.
Don’t expect to maintain every holiday tradition — pick the handful that are the most important and stick to those. Prioritize the activities that need to happen, and what can wait (or be skipped altogether).
2. Be realistic about what you can do.
Don’t let Martha Stewart’s perfectionism be your model over the holidays. Focus on the simple pleasures of the season, such as sharing a meal with those you love or hanging special holiday decorations. Scale back and find ways to simplify — a casual potluck instead of a formal sit-down dinner, for example, will help to reduce stress. Take a deep breath, and remember to laugh.
3. Involve the person you care for.
Are there simple holiday tasks your aging parent can assist with? Theodoropoulos’s 78-year-old mother deals with a variety of health issues but still enjoys helping prepare traditional Greek chicken and lamb dishes for the family’s Christmas meal. “She’s a phenomenal cook,” says Theodoropoulos.
4. Watch for winter perils.
McGeough points out that winter conditions during the holidays can present special hazards for aging or ill seniors, including slips and falls on icy walkways and potential trips over holiday decor such as garlands on stairway railings or extension cords used to plug in lights. Keep walkways clear of snow and ice and remove any hazards in the home that could lead to slips and falls.
5. Expect a range of emotions.
The holidays often trigger reactions around loss and longing for caregivers and family members alike. “It can be a hard time of year for people, especially if they’ve lost a spouse,” says McGeough. Caregivers may mourn the loss of the person their aging parent once was. Keep in mind that grieving is natural and it can help to talk to someone.
6. Ask for help.
“Caregiving is a team effort,” says McGeough. “Don’t be embarrassed to call on friends and family for assistance.” Caregiver services such as Elizz can also help ease the load through in-home and virtual supports, freeing up time for holiday activities, whether it’s shopping, attending a work function or visiting family out of town.
For those extra busy days, the Elizz “virtual visit” program offers peace of mind for caregivers through regularly scheduled phone conversations with your loved one. Theodoropoulos signed up for virtual visits and pays $49 a month for a care provider to call her mother every Tuesday and Friday. “They chat for 15 or 20 minutes and talk about everything from what she is making for dinner to how the grandkids are doing — my mother loves it and looks forward to the call,” she says. “If people were more aware of the services that are out there, it could make everyone’s life a little easier.”