What Do You Give a Caregiver For Christmas?
For a caregiver, the beauty and tradition of Christmas is often undermined by some of the worst burnout, fatigue and stress that they will experience during the year. Family and friends of caregivers can help by finding Christmas gifts for caregivers that help make the season brighter.
If there’s a caregiver in your family, they should always have your love and support. But the holidays offer a unique time to really show them how much you appreciate what they do. The following list of ideas for Christmas gifts for caregivers gives you a good place to start.
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5 Ideas For Christmas Gifts for Caregivers
While these ideas can help make the season brighter for caregivers, you know them best. It could be that they have a specific hobby that offers the chance for a gift. Or maybe they’ve always wanted a certain piece of furniture or artwork. Now’s the time to get it for them. But if nothing obvious presents itself, these general ideas can help get you started in the right direction.
The Gift of Time
Unlike every other job, a caretaker’s work is truly never finished. The duties around providing care for an aging or ill loved one do not take a break for Christmas or any other holiday. Over time, this takes a toll. Offering your own time to handle their duties and giving them time off is a great gift. If you don’t have the time, hiring help for the caregiver is another option. Having time on their own is something all 40 million caregivers in the United States will enjoy.
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A Special Day
A day at a spa or getting a professional massage are good caregiver gifts because they focus on getting them out of “stress mode.” If food is their thing, take them out to one of their favorite upscale restaurants. Or make them a home cooked meal that includes some of their favorite dishes. The idea is to pamper them with a special day or treat.
Connect Them With Support
Many areas have organizations that provide support for caregivers. In Pennsylvania, Hope Grows offers programs and services designed to support family caregivers, including the ability to do gardening and commune with nature. Hope Grows also offers a calling service in which experienced staff members reach out to regularly to check in and talk with caregivers. Directing your family caregiver to these types of services is a powerful way to let them know their wellbeing is a priority.
Support a Stress-Relieving Activity
What exactly makes for a stress-relieving activity? That depends on the caregiver. Supporting them in pursuing a hobby, including helping with any costs, is a good Christmas gift for caregivers. Another is buying them sessions at a yoga studio or a workout gym – anywhere they can relieve stress in a healthy way.
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High-Quality Journals
One of the best ways to relieve stress is to write in a journal. A meaningful gift that will last the whole year, a set of high-quality journals (at least two or three) provide a family caregiver an outlet. They can cast their feelings into words, which goes a long way to processing emotions and relieving stress. These ideas for Christmas gifts for caregivers can get you started in the right direction. A focus on providing caregivers a great gift is important. Caregivers do what they do out of love. That same spirit of giving should be shown to them.