Tis the Season
Regardless of your stage in your caregiving journey, the holidays are a great time to focus on your loved ones with your – and their – caregiving needs in mind. Here follows our list of 12 great gift ideas (one for each of the 12 days of Christmas), divided by caregiving stage.
Gift Ideas for … Caregivers who are in the Planning Stages:
You might have noticed friends who are struggling with the early stages of caregiving; their loved ones are beginning to show signs of needing help, but they don’t know where to turn. Or perhaps you and your own family members are starting to think about how you will handle your own caregiving challenges. Books and/ or counseling or training are great resources in either case. If it’s a friend, you can give them a thoughtful gift … if it’s you and your family, perhaps you can buy one of these resources together, and use it to work your way forward in making your own customized plan.
There are many resources that can help in learning how and what to plan for, how to initiate difficult conversations, how to make a family home age friendly, how to take care of yourself before and during caregiving, and on and on.
1) One of the best resources I’ve seen is a book titled Life: The Next Phase. Navigating the Issues of Caring for Your Aging Parents or Loved Ones, a step by step guide for what to do when your parent needs part-time or full-time assistance or the family finds themselves suddenly in a crisis situation. I was privileged to conduct a workshop with Jodi Hempel (co-author of this treasure trove of a book) at the recent National Caregiving Conference in Chicago, and was very impressed with her knowledge and perspectives. Starting to think about it sooner is better!
2) Another great resource is the session recordings from the recently held second annual National Caregiving Conference in Chicago. These 50+ sessions (50 minutes each) address the wide range of caregiving challenges – from planning through to grieving and relaunching. Based on the real-life experiences of former and current caregivers, the sessions offer an insider’s view of the caregiving journey, along with hope and solutions.
https://store7186101.ecwid.com/NCC17-Conference-Recordings-c24513410
3) One of the best resources in any caregiving situation is to “go in strong.” By that, I mean both physically and emotionally. Yoga – even at the beginner level – is a great mind-body practice that yields big benefits. My friend and colleague, Nicole DeAvilla author of The Two-Minute Yoga Solution is a wonderful resource to any person who wishes to find more balance in their lives.
Her special offer for the holidays is access to her guidance through 90-minute Skype sessions at one-third the cost of her regular rate. You can gift one session – or a bundle of 10 – to a soon-to-be caregiver in your life. Or you can gather your own virtual group of family/ friends and meet once a week online with Nicole. Please note that Nicole’s offer ends on Dec. 15, 2017.
Here is the link to the sign-up for Nicole’s online classes:
https://form.jotform.com/73257069357162
Here is the link for Nicole’s book:
http://www.innerpath.com/the-2-minute-yoga-solution-fast-and-easy-stress-and-back-pain-relief-for-anyone-at-anytime/
Gift Ideas for … Caregivers who are Surviving and Thriving Everyday with Caregiving Responsibilities:
There are tons of ways to brighten a caregiver’s day, ranging from a one-time gift of massage, food delivery or home spa products to regular weekly or monthly counseling services – or even in-home help for several hours a week, or a weekend away! Your options are only limited by imagination!
4) A proven system for journaling that helps caregivers focus on the important things and stay on track attitudinally, Deborah Harlow’s Joy Journal for Caregivers is a lovely way to help the caregiver in your life to find peace on a daily basis, and to improve their overall experience exponentially. I’ve worked with Deborah over the past two years and love what she is doing to help individuals find the joy in their lives, no matter what the circumstances.
https://mailchi.mp/7c7046aa7e4d/the-joy-journal-for-caregivers
5) Music and visuals that you can watch and listen to together with your care receiver, Ms. Sally’s Yellow Cat Song Book was designed with dementia patients in mind by my friend Steve Gardner, a Tokyo-based Mississippi blues artist par excellence.
Created and produced in honor of his mom, Miz Sally, who suffers from dementia, this project has been in the making for nearly 2 years, and it is well worth the wait. The set includes a 19-track DVD (showcasing Miz Sally’s dementia art), a 44-page booklet, a poster, and a 17-track music CD. Extremely enjoyable, and therapeutic, too!
This project is dedicated to Steve’s sister, Renee Trusty, who is Miz Sally’s 24/7 caregiver, and to all hard working caregivers working day in and day out to keep their loved ones safe and well cared for.
Order directly from Steve Gardner at: ramblingstevegardner@gmail.com. The cost is only ¥4,000 (USD$40.00)!
6) Sometimes it’s hard to keep your sense of humor while caregiving, but this NY Times bestselling memoir by New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast will have you chuckling in no time. Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant: A Memoir recounts Chast’s experiences with her aging parents over the last several years of their lives in a heart-warming way.
Gift Ideas for… Caregivers who are Relaunching:
For someone who is grieving, there is no better gift than for you to just “be there” for them while they sort things out. Trying to relaunch your life once caregiving is done can be difficult and the time required may vary dramatically from one person to the next.
Here are three great ideas that might offer a way forward:
7) I’ve mentioned several times how much I love the app called “CALM,” an effective tool for refocusing, rebalancing, and generally getting in touch with yourself, regardless of your stage in life – in as little as 10 minutes a day! How about giving an annual subscription?
https://www.calm.com/subscribe
8) How about an adventure-focused trip to generate new perspectives? A recent Travel + Leisure magazine article highlighted 10 companies that operate “women only” trips with kayaking, backpacking, and horseback riding (among others!) to US destinations such as California, Oregon and New Hampshire – but also to far flung bucket list spots such as Nicaragua, Spain and even Mongolia! Go together with a few friends or family members to send your favorite relaunching caregiver on a trip that will help them to renew their confidence and goals in life.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/adventure-travel/travel-companies-for-women
9) This book is good food for thought pretty much any time! Kitchen Table Wisdom – Stories that Heal, is a collection of stories by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., a physician, therapist, professor of medicine, and long-term survivor of chronic illness – and a darned good story teller. Inspirational and uplifting!
https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Table-Wisdom-Stories-That/dp/1574530631
Gift Ideas for … Care Receivers:
While we’re at it, let’s don’t forget those who are receiving care; it’s a great time to show our love, honor family traditions, and create memories that will help us later on. Some thoughtful ways to show your love and appreciation:
10) Write a poem for your loved one, showing your appreciation of all they have brought to your life; or better yet – write and perform a skit along with other family members.
11) Provide comfort; whether it’s massage, flowers, music, more comfie pillows, or a favorite food, think about what your loved one really loves and enjoys. What might make their days a little brighter? It might be a one-time gift, or a repeating monthly or weekly gift – i.e., regular in-home massage appointment, special meal delivery, music CD/ DVD, etc.
12) Give the gift of time; sometimes “being there” and just visiting can be the best gift of all.