Caregiver Stress During the Holidays: Entertaining Guests at Home with Your Aging Parent

 

 

Caregiver Stress During the Holidays-- Entertaining Guests at Home with Your Aging Parent

Throughout this week, we’ve talked about a few ways to manage stress as a caregiver during the holidays, from time management to taking a vacation.

One of the ways we talked about managing your stress was stepping aside and letting others host those major holiday parties. But sometimes, that’s just not possible.

Whether it’s because the rest of your family is from out of town and traveling for your aging parent can be difficult, or simply because you really enjoy hosting parties and couldn’t imagine it at anyone else’s home, today, we’re going to talk about a few tips to consider in order to keep the stress low and make your holiday party a good one for your aging loved ones.

Give them their space

Although the family is coming over to see them, some parents may not want to be the life of the party. While this may not be ideal, make sure to give them their space and privacy. For example, have the grandchildren play in the basement or somewhere they can run around freely without causing too much ruckus.

Pestering your parents and scolding them for not wanting to entertain will only put more stress on you and make them feel like a burden. In most cases, your parent might just need time to warm up, especially if they aren’t used to having so many guests over.

Take steps to prevent falls

The hustle and bustle of parties can sometimes prove disastrous for an aging parent, especially when it comes to falling. Here are a few ways to prevent any problems:

  • Clean up wet spots. Parties can produce a lot of heavy traffic in and out of the house. As a result, tracking snow into the house is inevitable. Keep an eye out for wet spots and try to make sure boots and any wet clothing can dry above a winter doormat.
  • Keep clutter to a minimum. With so many people running around, there is certainly a chance for clutter to build up. We already mentioned keeping children out of the way, but make sure there aren’t any wandering toys that might happen to pop up around the dinner table. Pets should also be kept an eye on, and try to make sure there is always a clear path in and around heavily trafficked areas (e.g. sliding chairs back under the table).

Have a helper

Trying to juggle the role of caregiver and host can be really difficult. In this case, it might be a good idea to hire or have a volunteer watch over your aging parent throughout the party. That way, you know they are properly being taken care of throughout the night, giving you more time to concentrate on your guests.

Holidays can be tough, especially when our duties seem to double, but taking the time to prepare yourself with these simple tips can help ease the tension and making whatever holiday festivities you are planning a success. And, if you ever need any advice, give Encompass a call. We’d love to hear from you!

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

photo credit: Texas State Library and Archives Commission via photopin cc

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