When you ask most people how they feel during the holiday season, happy and joyful seem to be the more common responses. But if you ask those immersed in the care of a family member, they are more likely to answer stressed or overwhelmed. This stress and overwhelm may come as par for the course when managing the needs of a loved one who needs constant care, but it may be deeper than that. Caregivers are often plagued by their memories of how the holidays used to be before the loved one needed full-time care. They may also be the person to whom the loved one who needs care is comfortable talking about the past, compounding the bittersweet or sad feelings that the caregiver may already be experiencing. To guard against the possibility of developing the holiday blues, family caregivers should invest in respite care.
Establishing respite care allows the caregiver personal time to remember the joy of the season. Caregivers can go shopping and seriously consider each purchase for each person they want to buy a gift for. They can declutter their space as they decorate for the season and donate items, money, or their time to organizations making sure the less fortunate will have a comfortable holiday celebration. They can go for a walk or a drive to enjoy the Christmas lights, music, and feeling of happiness the season provides. This allows the focus to remain on the positive aspect of the season rather than memories of the past or the demands of caregiving.
The most important part of establishing respite care is finding a reliable and trustworthy provider. With decades of experience referring compassionate and professional caregivers in respite care, Griswold Home Care of Greater Orlando has helped numerous families understand their current needs and plan for their future needs. They understand that as time passes, needs will change, and the helping hand of respite care will become even more important. If you are ready to get the respite care assistance that you need to keep the holidays joyful for you, contact Griswold Home Care to request a consultation at (407) 638-8116.
