Holiday movies always portray the season as a magical, blissful time. In reality, juggling work commitments with plans to see family and shopping for presents can equate more to stress than holiday cheer. As if that wasn’t enough, trying to make the holidays merry and bright while providing care for an older loved one can be an especially overwhelming experience. Taking care of yourself while acting as a caregiver is already a tall order. If holiday tasks are piling up on top of everything else on your to-do list, now might be the right time to explore the option of hiring a professional senior care provider.
“Caring for an aging loved one doesn’t leave much time for planning family gatherings, cooking large holiday meals or shopping for gifts,” points out Stephan Baldwin, director of business development at Assisted Living Center.
Here are a few ways that hiring a pro caregiver during the holiday season could be an act of self-care.
1. Your aging loved one will get an extra hand with their holiday to-do list
If you barely have time to buy presents for your nearest and dearest, you probably don’t have the bandwidth to help your senior loved one with theirs. Not to mention that, as Baldwin says, projects like wrapping presents can be challenging for older adults with limited mobility — and time-consuming even for those who are dexterous.
Hiring a companion caregiver can step in, saving you and your older loved one time and energy. Decorating, shopping, cleaning and baking are all holiday tasks caregivers can help our aging parents and grandparents with during the holiday season, says Baldwin.
“Loneliness and craving for someone to talk to and spend time with creeps in. That’s when hiring a caregiver saves the day.”
—Jill Leonard, senior caregiver
2. You can take a time-out from providing constant companionship
The holidays can be a lonely time for people — especially seniors who may be missing loved ones who have passed on. This means your older loved one could be needing you more at a time when you have less time to give and more on your plate.
“Loneliness and craving for someone to talk to and spend time with creeps in,” says Jill Leonard, a senior caregiver specializing in dementia patients in Spokane, Washington. “That’s when hiring a caregiver saves the day.”
Not only can a companion caregiver field those same stories you’ve likely heard a million times by now from your older loved one, but they may be able to help them connect with friends and family, either by driving them to spend time with loved ones who are close by or by setting up video calls.
“You can’t underestimate the value of companionship during the winter months when cold weather makes it difficult for family and friends to visit,” points out Baldwin.
3. You’ll enjoy more peace of mind
Whether you’re prepping for a holiday meal or running errands, who needs the added stress of wondering whether or not your aging loved one is going to be OK on their own — and for how long? A caregiver can ensure your senior loved one is engaged and cared for. (They might also offer you a well-deserved break from constant phone calls.)
In her own experience, Leonard says allowing a pro to take the reins on your loved one’s care during the holiday season can be hugely beneficial for your mental state. Knowing that a caregiver was looking out for her senior loved one while she was dealing with holiday to-dos was “a major relief” for her.
“You can’t underestimate the value of companionship during the winter months when cold weather makes it difficult for family and friends to visit.”
—Stephan Baldwin, director of business development, Assisted Living Center
4. You’ll have extra help in case you’re faced with an unexpected event
Kitty Eisele, an Emmy-winning producer and host of the Twenty-Four Seven podcast, learned how helpful hiring senior care can be when her mother experienced a fall during the week of Christmas. “Friends had recommended hiring a certified nursing assistant (CNA) who could assist with dressing, light housework, laundry and bathing if needed to help my dad and my mom,” she says.
Eisele appreciated how much the CNA was able to help her mom, especially during the holiday season. She only wishes she had discussed the possibility of hiring care before the fall. “It could have been a much easier situation if we had had some hard conversations earlier on,” she notes.
Tips for hiring senior care during the holidays
Planning to hire extra help? Here are a few tips to consider:
1. If possible, start your search early.
“While some caregivers may be looking to pick up extra shifts, there is also an increase in demand from families looking for assistance,” says Baldwin. “Keep in mind that there is also a shortage of caregivers and skilled nurses due to burnout from being overwhelmed during the pandemic.”
Though it may be possible to find last-minute help, Baldwin says it’s never too early to start looking.
2. Ask about past experience.
If you’re hiring a caregiver who has experience working during the holidays, Leonard recommends asking questions that would determine how they’d best fit your specific needs.
- Do they have any additional skills that would be more than welcome during the holidays (i.e. special holiday cooking expertise or background in art that may make it possible for them to come up with creative activities for your older loved one, etc.)?
- How do they manage taking care of the older loved one when there are kids around?
3. Tip your holiday senior caregiver.
Remember that caregivers have families too, and they’ve chosen to be away from their loved ones to take care of yours, points out Baldwin. He recommends showing your appreciation with a caregiver bonus or tip, which can vary in amount, depending on how many hours your caregiver puts in.
