Tuesday, 27 December 2022

Caregiving: Tips for Success during the Festive Season

Caregiving during the Festive Season is extra challenging for many reasons – it’s common to approach the season with anticipation and caution.

Festive Season celebrations are intended to be happy and joyful, but as a caregiver seasonal challenges can arise, it’s common to ask yourself:

“How can I celebrate the Festive Season with everything I’m dealing with?”

Here’s some tips for Caregivers during the Festive Season to ensure that you, your elderly loved one and the rest of your family get the most out of the seasonal celebrations without additional stress.

Manage Your Own Expectations

One factor that can make the Festive Season more stressful — whether you are a caregiver or not — is over zealous expectations. Whether it’s expecting the “just right” present, a magazine-ready Christmas tree, or an idyllic Christmas, high hopes can undermine your efforts and steal your seasonal joy.

Accept that things do not have to be “perfect”. Expect that if your family faces challenges during the year, those challenges are still likely to be there during the Festive Season. Be realistic rather than idealistic.

When it comes to your elderly loved one, let them contribute in the manner that they choose to, or respect their choice to not participate in the preparations or even celebrations at all. Remember that their abilities might be reduced physically and/or mentally and that adjustments need to be made.

Make Self-Care a Priority

Caregivers notoriously do not prioritise their own care, particularly because they are so focused on the needs of others. In the whirlwind of activities during the holidays, you’re even more at risk of not taking care of yourself.

If you find self-care elusive as a caregiver, it’s time to be tough with yourself. Book time to exercise at least 30 minutes five days a week. Schedule additional time to meditate or to do your favourite destressing hobby, such as reading, video games, or listening to music.

If you already have a self-care routine, commit to sticking to it during the festive season. The only exception should be if an emergency occurs, such as having to take your loved one to the hospital.

Mind your own mind-set

Acknowledge all your emotions, including fears, frustrations and sadness, during the holidays. All those emotions are perfectly normal. Try to stay mindful, concentrating on what you are doing in any given moment, rather than letting your mind wander to your ever-growing to-do list.

Stay focused on the positives: Think about what you can accomplish instead of what you can’t; celebrate what your loved ones can do, rather than mourning what they can no longer participate in; revel in the holiday joys you will experience, instead of missing those you’ll bypass; appreciate the help you are receiving rather than resenting those who aren’t supportive. Negative thinking actually activates your body’s stress response, so steer your mind elsewhere when you start down the slippery slope of negative thinking.

Be Flexible

Caregiving can be unpredictable — and the holiday season doesn’t change that. While it’s very helpful and de-stressing to make plans and work towards them, foster a mindset of flexibility.

Truly accept that a situation might arise that will alter your plans. For instance, your elderly loved one — or even you — might not feel well enough to join the celebrations. There might be a power outage. A simmering sibling conflict about how to care for your loved one might surface and spoil the occasion.

Avoid being stubborn about anything. Instead, in the moment, practice relaxation, letting go, and acceptance. Being flexible about any and everything will also help you to focus on solutions and alternative approaches.

On the other hand, stubbornness shuts down problem-solving and the desire to find solutions that most people — if not everyone — will find acceptable.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays. Maintaining the health and well-being of both you and your care recipient is far more important this year. Be gentle with yourself, and your loved ones, and take time to set expectations in advance.

If you are concerned about a loved one or if you are a family caregiver and need assistance during the holiday season, send our care team an email at info@goldenhomecare.com

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