Elder Care Greenville SC: Caregiver Stress - Minimizing Tension during the Holidays

By Bruce Meyer

Elder Care givers are nearly constantly under stress. This is particularly true for individuals who are providing senior care to a loved one while raising their own children. The holidays, in particular, can prove to be extremely difficult for caregivers who already feel as if their time and energy are stretched too thin. For this reason, the elder care professionals at AlwaysBest Care of Greenville, serving Greenville, Greer, Simpsonville, Taylors, Fountain Inn, and Mauldin, encourage families to take the time to ensure that their caregivers have the chance to enjoy the season. If you are providing senior care to an elderly loved one, the professionals at Always Best Care encourage you to communicate your needs to your family and make it a priority to participate in holiday festivities.

Of course, making time to do so is not always easy. In fact, you may be wondering how you will juggle your responsibilities as a caregiver, a parent, and a spouse while spreading holiday cheer. Here are a few tips to assist you in de-stressing this holiday season:

1.     Ask family members for assistance in providing care to your elderly loved one. If you have family members coming into town for the holidays, ask if they will sit with your senior for a day or two to allow you to enjoy the holiday season with your kids.

2.     Make sure to engage in the holiday traditions that really make the season for you. For instance, if you love shopping in the busy crowds, take an afternoon to explore the mall. Even if you have already completed your holiday shopping, just being out and about can help you de-stress and enjoy the spirit of the season.

3.     Try to get all of your shopping done before family members start to arrive for the holidays. This will allow you to mark one very big item off of your to do list before the holidays even get into swing. Additionally, it will allow you to spend quality time with loved ones without having to worry about sneaking away to procure some last minute gifts.

The elder care professionals at Always Best Care of Greenville  understand that, for most caregivers, the holidays are extremely stressful. By taking these few hints and creating other ways to make some time for yourself, you can enjoy the holiday season without feeling as though you are missing out or are distracted by all of your responsibilities. 

For a free e-book on senior care issues, please click here to have one sent to you free of charge.

For more information, please contact +Bruce Meyer at  (864) 527-0464.

Elder Care Greenville SC: 3 Ways to Entertain Seniors with Dementia during the Holidays

By Bruce Meyer

The holiday season provides families with a wonderful time to get together and create lasting memories. But for seniors who suffer from dementia and the family members who provide them with elder care and deal with Elder Care in Greenville SC, the holidays can prove stressful. In fact, the gathering of so many people can make seniors who suffer from this illness uncomfortable, and the changes in behavior that the condition causes can alarm family members who are in town for the season. The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Greenville, serving Greenville, Greer, Simpsonville, Taylors, Fountain Inn, and Mauldin, know that keeping your elderly loved one safe and comfortable during the holidays can be a challenge—particularly if they suffer from dementia. Here are three ways that these professional dementia care providers encourage you to keep your loved one entertained and happy during family gatherings.

1.     Establish two different areas in which your elderly loved one can enjoy the festivities: one that is right in the middle of the celebration and one that is away from the commotion. Elderly individuals who suffer from dementia often experience mood swings, so it is feasible that they may want to be involved in the celebrations at the beginning of the night and then request a place to retreat quietly later in the evening.

2.     Make sure to engage your senior in the holiday traditions that your family practices. Even if they do not remember the importance of these activities, making them a part of each of these events will allow you to keep them entertained and your family to enjoy the season with your elderly loved one. Regardless of if your senior actively remembers the many years they have decorated the tree or lit the menorah, they may find comfort in these familiar activities.

3.     If they are interested in the arts, take your loved one to see seasonal plays and ballets. The Nutcracker is a very popular show, and your local orchestra may also put on a holiday concert for the community.

The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Greenville (www.AlwaysBestCareGreenville.com) know that keeping a senior with dementia entertained is not always an easy task. This can become especially difficult during the holidays, when the emotional toll of watching a loved one deal with this condition can become heavier than ever. But it is possible for you to create a holiday season that your entire family can enjoy by keeping your senior engaged. 

For a free e-book on senior care issues, please click here to have one sent to you free of charge.

For more information, please contact Bruce Meyer at  (864) 527-0464.