Just as the holiday season starts to approach, the caregiver’s stress level starts building up. Though the holidays are a delightful and wonderful time to be surrounded with your family, it can increase the tension of you handling your care giving duties as well as your family obligations. Simultaneously, you have to make sure you are fully prepared for a wonderful holiday season with your family.
It is vital that you relax and take a deep breath. If you start to take too much stress on yourselves, it might lead to major health issues for you. After all, if you are not fit and well, you will not be able to take care of your loved senior.
In such cases when you know you have too much to handle, the best way is to consider about home care services so you can be at a peace of mind knowing that your loved ones are well taken care of. Besides hiring home care services, here are some tips you can put into practice to beat your caregiver stress.
1. Plan in advance
Before you know it, the holiday season will arrive. Rather than hurrying and rushing at the last moment, you should start your planning at your earliest. The first thing to do is make a to-do list and start your working on it. Be it shopping for the ingredients of the family meals or arranging for the doctor’s appointment, get started as soon as you can.
2. Give yourself less to do
If the ribbons and streamers are not up or you have not sent out your holiday cards, tell yourself that the holidays are all about being together and spending quality time with your loved ones. The true feeling of celebrating the holidays is not about fancy multi-course meals, but being around your close family over a simple meal.
3. Don’t feel bad for your senior’s mood
It might be that your senior will not understand if you are not able to give them the time. Do not feel guilty if your seniors are not happy that you have done little in celebration for the holiday.
4. Stay positive
The effort you are putting in taking care for your loved ones is helping you build a stronger bond between each other. Know that your efforts are making a difference and that you matter to others. It has been found in a research that according to many caregivers, their perspective of life has changed and they are now more appreciative of their life.
5. Arrange for some respite home caregiving help for yourself
You also need to take a break for yourself. Try to arrange for some extra help so that it will be easier for yourself to prepare for the holiday. Get your family members involved and try to distribute your caregiving responsibilities so you can get a few extra hours of rest. If you are not able to get the help you need, the best option is to hire some caregiving services. Make arrangements before the holidays for respite home care services and work your schedule around it.