Holiday Caregiving Made Easy

The Holidays tend to be a stressful season for most people, and are often times even more stressful for caregivers. Holiday visits can be a great time to check-up on your loved one and have a positive impact on their care.

As some people age, they need more help with their day-to-day activities. A Holiday visit is the perfect opportunity to evaluate your loved one's situation. First, take a moment to assess your loved one's appearance. Weight loss and decreased personal hygiene are both signs that there may be a problem. Similarly, unopened mail or forgetting to refill prescriptions both point to a potential memory loss. If your elderly family member is no longer doing things he once enjoyed, such as visiting friends or going on weekly golf trips, there may be a physical or psychological reason for that change. Once problems are identified you can work with other family members to brainstorm a solution, which may involve speaking with a doctor.

There are several things you can do that make a huge a impact regardless of both how long you are staying and how much help your elderly family member needs. First, make sure your loved one has an emergency contact card in his wallet. If not, help him create one. Emergency contacts, physician's numbers, blood type and medication regimen should all be included. You can also attend any doctor's appointments that are scheduled during your visit. This gives you the chance to talk to the doctor in person and share any troublesome observations you have made. You can also check to be sure that your loved one has enough food and toiletries. If not, accompany him on a shopping trip.

Caregivers also need to take some time to care for themselves during the Holidays. Getting enough sleep and eating well are both great ways to reenergize yourself and stay healthy. It is also beneficial to have reasonable expectations; ask friends and family members for support if you need to. You can't do it all in a limited amount of time, and there is always the next visit to complete any unfinished tasks.

If you have a plan, you will be prepared to make the most of your Holiday visit. As long as you observe your loved one's behavior, make sure he has all the basic necessities, and take some time for yourself, you should be good to go. You can both have fun with family and get something productive accomplished during the same visit.

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