The holiday season can be fun. And yet, it has its own challenges. You may even remember yourself in your youth experiencing the season as something magical and full of wonder.

And now, as you grow older and more responsibilities fall on you, this season can be hectic and stressful. Especially when you care for your family and care for your aging parents as well.

 

To help you manage your time and still keep the holidays meaningful and worthwhile for your elderly parents as well as for the whole family, follow these tips.

Be clear about your holiday plans

Be realistic about your plans and make sure not to spread yourself too thinly. Choose the invitations you need to take or attend. Simplify your celebrations when necessary to accommodate your elderly parents and make sure they have a great time too. Feel free to opt out of parties or events that can add to your already busy schedule.

Prepare Your Loved One to Go Outside Their Routine

Talk about your plans with them ahead of time. Let them know what they can expect and who will be there. If necessary, show them pictures of the people who will be there, as well as pictures of the places to help them better identify. If they have specific dietary needs, be sure these are addressed as well. As for mobility issues, make sure the places you’re going to are easily accessible for them.

Be Open to New Traditions

You can’t expect to have the same holiday traditions as before if your situation and your demands are now different. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of making the holidays perfect, how about you embrace being different now? Create new traditions that are more in line to your life and your lifestyle now? Something that can also embrace the demands of caregiving for your elderly parents.

And if this seems hard for you, or if you’re going to be away, facilities like Blessed Home can help you with that.

Ask for Help

You have to face it–you really can’t do it all. So, if necessary, enlist backup help. Hire a caregiver if necessary. Or take your elderly to a facility such as ours so that they can socialize and participate in the holiday activities.

You may get in touch with us at 0917 856 0623 to find out more.