The holidays are the perfect time to visit with friends and family members, but it’s not quite what you would call a relaxing time of year. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season, from shopping to social events to family get-togethers, can be incredibly stressful, and when you’ve got someone you love to care for, your own tasks can be neglected. Never fear: our care team has some quick caregiver holiday tips to help!
How Can You Check Off All the To-Dos to Better Enjoy the Holidays?
Wondering how to get everything on your to-do list accomplished in time for the holidays? Try the following tips to help you stay on track.
- Bypass the shopping mall & shop virtual. Getting out to a crowded mall can be a challenge this time of year, especially when caring for a senior who is homebound. Online shopping can be carried out from almost anywhere: in the doctor’s office, late at night while watching TV, etc., and is quite a bit less stressful than fighting the large holiday crowds.
- Make it a team effort. Too many presents to wrap? Unsure how you’ll write out all of your holiday cards? Enlist the help of a family member or friend who can help with wrapping presents. Schedule an afternoon to visit, sip hot chocolate, and write out all of your holiday cards together with your older family member assisting in whatever way they can.
- Be discerning about “made from scratch.” Many people feel obligated to go overboard on food during the holiday season, but not everything on your table needs to be homemade. Choose one or two items for your holiday menu that you enjoy making from scratch, and add in some microwavable or ready-made dishes to round out the table and save you time.
Did you know a caregiver can provide support with these holiday to-dos and much more for the older adults you love? Not only can we run errands like picking up groceries, prepare delicious meals, and help with wrapping gifts and decorating the home, but we also love taking seniors out holiday shopping! Our caregiving companions are always available to make each day during the holiday season – and beyond – happier and brighter for the seniors we serve, while allowing family caregivers to take much-needed time away from their care tasks.
Providing care for someone you love during the holidays can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to stress you out. With Dakota Home Care, the leading provider of home and hospice care in Bismarck, ND, as well as Mandan, Fargo, and the surrounding areas, you are never alone in your role as a caregiver. Call our home care professionals at (877) 691-0015 to schedule a complimentary 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 Dakota Home Care, we wish you and your family the happiest of holidays and all the best in the coming year!