caregiving over the holidays

Caregiving Over the Holidays

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The Holidays tend to be a stressful season for mostpeople, and are often times even more stressful forcaregivers.caregivers.

Holiday visits can be a great time to check-up on yourloved one and have a positive impact on their care.


One important task is to look out for warning signs thatelderly family members may need more help taking care ofthemselves on a day-to-day basis.

Physically, weight loss and a lack of personal hygiene areboth signs that a family member may need increased care.

It is also beneficial to look out for signs of forgetfulness,such as leaving unopened mail on the kitchen counter orforgetting to refill prescriptions.


If an elderly family member has stopped doing thingsthey previously enjoyed, such as eating lunch withfriends or going on a weekly bowling outing, there maybe some physical or psychological reason for thatbe some physical or psychological reason for thatchange.

If a concern is identified, you can then work with otherfamily members to come up with some solution.


There are several concrete things you can do that will help makeHoliday visits as productive as possible.

First, make sure your loved one has an emergency card in theirFirst, make sure your loved one has an emergency card in theirwallet with emergency contacts, physicians’ numbers, blood typeand medication regimen.

If something were to happen, he or she would then be able toreceive more thorough care without delay.

On a similar note, if there are any scheduled doctorsappointments, be sure to attend.


This is a great chance to ask the doctor any questions andtell him about any observations you have made.

Before you leave, be sure that your loved one has adequateBefore you leave, be sure that your loved one has adequatefood and toiletries stored at home. If not, you canaccompany them on a shopping run..

Finally, it is also important for the caregiver to take sometime to de-stress, so you can get the most of your holidayvisit.


Getting enough sleep and eating well can be veryhelpful, as this will enable you to feel energized whenyou need it most.

Try not to take on too many responsibilities yourself.Another friend or family member is probably willing tohelp you get things done, or at least provide emotionalsupport. Having reasonable expectations can also leadto reduced stress levels.


In most cases, one visit during the Holidays is not going tobe sufficient to completely change the way someone isliving, although that one visit can be used to make valuableprogress.progress.

As long as you are aware of the care-receiver’s behavior,have a plan, and commit yourself to having reasonableexpectations, there is no reason why you can’t make themost the most of your Holiday visit.


This is the perfect opportunity to both have a good time and get some productive work done in ensuring your loved and get some productive work done in ensuring your loved one’s well-being.


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caregiving over the holidays

Health & Medicine

elderly family members

holiday visits

great time

increased care

thorough care

loved ones

good time

warning signs