It may be a little late for this but I need to write it down now rather than wait for the next holiday to come. Of course, due to my very busy schedule, I tend to forget good and useful materials to write and would only remember them out of the blue later on. I know, the little signs of dementia, you would say.
So this is it. My tips to caregivers worldwide for avoiding holiday stress which normally occurs during the month of December, since that month, particularly, has the longest and festive weeks in it. It can also occur during summers when everyone is in vacation mode and you helplessly look from the sidelines just because it might break the normalcy you and your senior have somehow managed to create.
It is just so tempting to turn a blind-eye everytime a potential holiday break is about to come. This is because, to a caregiver, going through a holiday means more work to do, more tasks to secure and most of all, an extra effort to an already humongous job. No matter how much you and your senior like to join the party, it isn’t that easy to do anymore.
One of the concerns, caregivers tend to worry about is the disruption of schedule. All caregivers will agree, caring for an aging parent or an ill spouse is no joke. It is more like walking on eggshells, or perhaps a walking time bomb? That’s how delicate a caregiver’s life truly is. Sadly, somehow holidays tend to give an added pressure to a caregivers life, threatening its hold so it is only understandable if a caregiver skip celebrations altogether and just choose to continue their routines without interference.
Regardless of your senior’s present condition, it is your and your senior’s right to be happy once in a while. And, you must! The idea is to make it easier for you to attend festivities by figuring out a way that will work for you and your senior. Would throwing your own house party be easier for you or would you rather transport your senior to the party venue so you won’t have to deal with the after-party mess? You can rely and discuss these concerns with the party organizer. Unless they really don’t want you and your senior there in the first place, they will surely make room for adjustments.
To avoid holiday stress from affecting you, never allow yourself to worry about mishaps. Just as long as you have your senior safe and secure, you don’t have to worry about things that may or may not come. Also, it will help if you can avoid emotional situations as it will surely affect everyone in the room, especially your senior. This should be a time for getting together and catching up with family and friends, this should be a happy event to begin with.
Know when to say “no”. It is not always that your senior—or even you—is in good shape, much less attend a party. It’s already a given fact that attending a party means advance and careful planning, without these things, it is not possible for you to even set a foot out the door. The party host will surely understand your situation if explained properly.