This Christmas season, there are plenty of things that you can do with an in-home caregiver that you might find difficult to do if you didn’t have one. Instead of doing the same old thing this year, here are some ideas that will keep the holiday season more festive for your elderly loved one receiving care.
Watch Holiday Movies
Everyone loves holiday movies, and there are some great ones out there. Whatever genres you enjoy, there’s probably a Christmas movie within it. And with subscription streaming services, getting these movies is much easier now than ever before. They also have television shows available, and Christmas specials are popular in many of these, both drama and sit-com.
Decorate a Tree
A lot of senior citizens have difficulty putting up decorations, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t want to. When you have a senior caregiver in the home helping, the difficulty is erased and becomes a possibility again. Getting a Christmas tree is also a lot easier, too, if your caregiver is willing to drive and pick up a tree. This might not apply to everyone, but because it gets dark so much earlier during the winter, going out and looking at other people’s decorations is a choice, too, especially if care is given later in the afternoon. Depending upon where you live, there may be a lot of homes decorated, complete with pretty Christmas lights. Having your caregiver take your loved one for a quick ride around town to see them will be very fun.
Sing Carols
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the music. Singing carols within your home, or going somewhere to ing, or even just to listen to others performing, is a great way to celebrate the holidays. It’s impossible on your own often, because many seniors are unable to drive, but with a responsible in-home caregiver, transportation is often provided with the care, and this is a great opportunity to take advantage of it.
Talk
You can (and should) talk with your loved one as often as possible, but the Christmas season presents a special opportunity. They may want to talk about things that they’ve never spoken with you about, special memories of their past, or loved ones that passed away before you were born. When you have a caregiver in the mix, another option pops up. If your elderly loved one has trouble leaving the house, there’s a good chance that they haven’t spoken to someone outside of their family in a while. The best caregivers are much more than just caregivers, they become trusted friends. Your elderly loved one might feel more comfortable opening up to their caregiver if they have a good rapport. Giving them this option is a wonderful thing that you might never have thought about before.
Christmas is about family and giving and being thankful for the gifts that we’ve been given. In-home care might seem contrary to this, but it actually makes family time more enjoyable and easier to manage by making other moments less stressful. This is a great time of year, and good care makes it even more so.
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