Blog Post by Mike Brunt and other Portland Area Home Instead Owners
Does this caregiver?s story sound familiar to you??
Last year, Kim knew it was probably the last holiday season she would get to spend with her father since his health was declining rapidly. Each day after work, Kim dropped her daughter off at dance rehearsals, so she could go to her parents house to help out.She didn?t get a chance to even touch her holiday shopping list until late December. When her son asked why they hadn?t baked his favorite snowball cookies together, she felt about ready to snap. Instead of enjoying the holiday season with her family, Kim spent three stressful months wishing it were over.Are you facing a similarly stressful holiday season? Plan now to make it more enjoyable with these stress-busting tips from professionals at the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging. Be flexible.The holidays are steeped in personal, family and religious traditions. Maintaining those is a lot of responsibility for anyone, especially family caregivers, who lead busy lives while caring for aging parents. Diane K. Hendricks, social worker for the Center, recommends: ?As a family, ask yourself, ?What is important to continue and what can we adapt or let go???
Take care of yourself. You hear it every year ? don?t over-eat during the holidays and keep exercising. That?s easier said than done, for sure. Make a concerted effort to schedule time for exercise and keep healthy snacks handy to help avoid sugary holiday treats.
Communicate your needs. Difficult family dynamics can take center stage during the holidays. Conflict may arise if family members can no longer continue their traditional holiday roles. Let yourself be heard and invite conversation around conflicts. Communicating is the best way to help smooth out problems and avert new ones.
Look for comic relief. Nothing lifts the spirit like a good laugh! Gather friends together for a game night or to watch a funny holiday movie.
Plan ahead. Lower your level of stress by starting your holiday preparations way in advance. Make a list before the season arrives of holiday tasks and think about who can help so that no one bears the brunt of the work.
Make time for your traditions. One of the most important things about the holidays is creating memories with your loved ones. Don?t let favorite traditions go by the wayside during the busy holiday season. If time or circumstances make them difficult to maintain, adapt them as necessary.
Be resourceful. Don?t be a martyr. If someone wants to help, say ?yes? to that casserole or offer to run an errand.
Saying ?yes? to help can also mean taking advantage of professional senior care services. Call or email me to set up a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss how a few hours of in-home care services for your loved one can eliminate some of your holiday stress.
Contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office to learn more about coping with caregiver stress or schedule a free, in-home consultation to discover how we can help care for your senior loved one in their home.
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Source: http://seniorcare2share.com/2012/11/stressbusters/
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