Caregiving and the Holidays: Tips for Avoiding the Blues

The holiday season is a time filled with laughter, joy and getting to enjoy time with family and friends. While it is a joyous occasion, it can also be a stressful time for many people, especially seniors and their family caregivers. Unrealistic expectations, loneliness, anxiety about the future, failing to get enough sleep, failing to exercise, or a lack of proper nutrition are just a few of the challenges faced by family caregivers that can lead to caregiver blues over the holidays. 

Caregiving and the Holidays shouldn’t be stressful. With the right support, the holidays can be a positive experience for you and the family caregiver in your life. Here are some caregiver stress relief tips to prevent the caregiving blues from taking over your holiday: 

Set Realistic Expectations 

Being a family caregiver means that your priorities have shifted and that’s okay. Especially during the holiday season, you may feel pressure to attend every event hosted by family and friends. Do what is best for you and your family. Know that it’s okay to say “no” and not feel guilty about doing so. Identify two or three holiday activities you and the senior in your care would like to do over the holidays and stick to those things. 

Ask for Help  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 37 million people provide unpaid home care in the United States. It can be difficult to manage caregiving and the holidays alone on top of another job or other roles you play in your family. There are people in your community who want to be useful to you, but they may not know how. Take time to identify the specific areas or tasks you need help with and ask friends or other family members for support. 

Seek Additional Support

If you’re experiencing caregiver stress or burnout that seems beyond that of the holidays, it may be time to seek additional support. FirstLight Home Care, along with our professional caregivers, can provide respite care for elderly parents and loved ones. We know how important it is for caregivers to find time to rest and recharge to show up as their best selves for their loved ones. 

Be Social 

It can be easy during the holidays to stay at home alone to focus solely on your caregiving duties. Managing both caregiving and the holidays is a great opportunity to fill your home with new memories. It’s important to find time to interact with family and friends. If you can’t go to your family, find ways to invite them into your home. Carve out time to have fun, watch movies, laugh and focus on something other than your caregiving responsibilities. 

Prioritize Self-Care  

Being a caregiver is hard. Between managing your own life and caring for your loved one, it’s important that family caregivers take time for themselves. Carve out time to stop, breathe and feel the joy of the season. This will help you stay healthy, recharge, and avoid caregiver burnout. Some self-care activities you can do include: 

• Take Naps: On average, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep. Get the proper sleep at night and nap throughout the day. This will help you to get less stressed as you do your caregiving activities. 

• Avoid overstimulation: If you’re a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia, avoid overly stimulating environments, which can increase his/her stress, and yours. During the holidays, avoid shopping on weekends or hosting large gatherings, as both can increase family stress. 

• Eat right: Watch what you eat and drink. It’s okay to treat yourself this holiday season but avoid the temptation to overeat those holiday goodies or overindulge in alcoholic beverages.  

• Exercise: Make time to exercise. Take a walk, ride your bike, or get to the health club for yoga or a swim class. Exercise can be a tremendous benefit to your physical and emotional health while caring for a loved one. 

Don’t let the pressures of caregiving and the holidays make you dread the holiday season. There are plenty of ways for family caregivers to manage holiday blues to enjoy the positive memories the holiday season brings. And you don’t have to do it alone. FirstLight Home Care is here to help you have a good experience during the holidays and beyond – contact a location near you for additional support.