Your Gift-giving Made Easy – Don’t Miss Checking Out My List!
Here are 12 great gift ideas (one for each of the 12 days of Christmas), with three ideas for each of the three main stages in the caregiving journey … and last but not least, three ideas for care receivers. Enjoy!
Three Great Gift Ideas for … Caregivers in the Planning Stages
You may 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.
In the planning stage, it’s important to proactively assess your resources - financial, physical and emotional health, and even spiritual - and get the help you need to make sure you have a well-thought-out, agreed-upon and legally documented plan for the days when you may be called upon to support your loved one as they lose their ability to live independently. The following gifts will help get you there!
Life: The Next Phase. Navigating the Issues of Caring for Your Aging Parents or Loved Ones, is a step-by-step guide for what to do when your parent needs part-time or full-time assistance or you find yourself in a crisis situation, co-authored by Jodi Hempel, “peace of mind architect,” planning expert and coach.
The Complete Eldercare Planner – Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help is a guide to prioritizing and organizing caregiving tasks, and navigating eldercare services. Joy Loverde, long-time caregiver and consultant in the caregiving industry, leads you through a series of downloadable key documents, checklists and worksheets to help you get ahead of the curve.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Eldercare-Planner-Revised-Updated/dp/0307409627
Another great resource is the session recordings from Caregiving.com’s recently held fourth 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.
There are three recording package options at different price ranges ($99~199), giving you online access via a dedicated website … or via your own USB flash drive.
https://www.caregiving.com/store/#!/NCC19-Session-Recordings/p/158145059/category=20054046
Three Great 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! Here are three great ideas for caregivers in the midst of caregiving.
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. Her next online guided course for Joy Journaling starts in February, so the timing is great! I’ve worked with Deborah over the past three 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
Music and visuals 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 suffered from dementia and sadly, passed away earlier this year, this project was in the making for nearly 2 years. 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)!
If Only You Would Ask, a book written by mother-daughter team Joan Bachman and Eileen Berger, is a wonderful guide to stimulating fun and meaningful conversations with your loved one. Based on their own experience, this dynamic duo guides you through 42 topics and over 400 questions – you’ll never be at a loss for topics again!
https://www.amazon.com/If-Only-You-Would-Ask/dp/1627874631
Three Gift Ideas for… Caregivers who are Relaunching Now that Caregiving is Done
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 for caregivers who are working to regain their equilibrium.
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 to the relaunching caregiver in your life?
https://www.calm.com/subscribe
Or how about an adventure- or sightseeing trip to generate new perspectives? A recent TripSaavy.com article highlighted 14 companies that operate “women only” trips with everything from hiking Kilimanjaro to seeing the sights in Paris. Travel together with your favorite relaunching caregiver on a trip that will help them to renew their confidence and goals in life.
https://www.tripsavvy.com/gutsy-group-trips-for-women-34052
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
Three 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 your love, honor family traditions, and create memories that will help you later on. Here are three thoughtful ways to show your love and appreciation.
Here’s one that both care receivers AND their caregivers can enjoy - together! How about a cruise designed by nursing professionals with the support you need? Elite Cruise’s Kathy Shoaf is an RN with a passion to help you enjoy time with your loved one.
With several destinations per year, these cruises are designed for care receivers who’ve been diagnosed with Cognitive Impairment, Heart Disease, Dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Arthritis, and those who simply need a little bit of additional assistance.
Next cruise leaving in January 2020, for the Southern Caribbean (Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, and more)!
https://www.elitecruisesandvacationstravel.com/january-2020-cruise.html
Use your creativity and give the gift of comfort: whether it’s massage, flowers, music, more comfy pillows, or a favorite food, think about what your loved one who needs care 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 – for example, regular in-home massage appointment, special meal delivery, music CD/ DVD, etc.
Give the gift of TIME; sometimes “being there” and just visiting can be the best gift of all.
And last but not least, for a great overview of the entire caregiving journey - and lots of tips and ideas for taking care of yourself along the way - check out my book: The Caregiving Journey: Information. Guidance. Inspiration. All new, updated resource list included! Just in time for Christmas!