How to Prevent Caregiver Christmas Depression
Caregivers can Maintain Holiday Health by Managing Christmas Burden
Nov 28, 2008
Understanding the emotional and spiritual reasons for holiday blues can help prevent it. In addition, caregiver burden during the holidays must be addressed to prevent Christmas depression and promote holiday health.
Lessen Caregiver Burden to Achieve Holiday Health
Christmas may burden caregivers with more tasks than they can handle in an already overburdened life, leading to caregiver burnout, poor health, Christmas depression and holiday blues. This is the time for caregivers to re-think how they celebrate the holidays. Caregivers should not feel obliged to do anything they do not wish to do. Caregivers should do only what seems enjoyable and what promotes holiday health.
Caregivers Can Ease Their Burden by Making Christmas Shopping Easier
Caregivers can let people know that they may not have time to shop due to the large burden they are already carrying as caregivers. They can enlist others to do the Christmas shopping, or give money and gift certificates, which can be purchased easily online or over the phone with a credit card. Restaurant and catalogue gift certificates make great gifts. Teens particularly enjoy receiving cash as a gift.
For some caregivers, Christmas shopping and giving are rituals that they look forward to, and it would make them happy if they could preserve this tradition. Christmas shopping may provide a welcome escape for the caregiver. A little planning can make it more manageable. Start early. Enlist family, friends, or paid caregivers to take care of the patient. If it is truly impossible to get out, try catalogue, televsiion or internet shopping, just for this year.
Caregivers Can Prevent Christmas Depression by Celebrating in a Way That is Enjoyable
Caregivers should decide where they would like to spend the holidays. Doing the same old thing out of guilt or obligation will be too much of a burden. Caregivers can decide whether they wish to stay home or go visiting. Is the sick spouse well enough to travel, or will the stress of it make it unsatisfying for both spouse and caregiver?
If traveling, the caregiver should not worry about helping serve and clean up. Take this opportunity to be waited on for a change. If the caregiver feels the need to, make a simple statement about not helping, such as,
- "I'm sorry I'm not helping, but I need to keep my eye on your dad." Or,
- "I'm sorry I'm not helping but I have been so overburdened lately with your mom's illness I feel the need to rest."
Or, perhaps the caregiver would like to get a break from his or her spouse for awhile. This is perfectly OK. With all of the family gathered together, this is a good time to take advantage of the help in the room. Caregivers can ask one or two responsible family members (who aren't cooking or serving) to take care of the patient for an hour or two during the gathering. Grandchildren can be a wonderful choice. The caregiver can go into a bedroom to sleep, mediate or just take some time alone, if that is what he or she needs. If the caregiver is needed, the family will find him or her. Let others manage on their own.
Caregivers Can Promote Holiday Health by Staying Home if They Wish
If caregivers don't want to go visiting, they are perfectly entitled to stay home. If they would like to be with family, but they do not wish to take on the responsibility of cooking, ask others ahead of time to prepare and bring the meal, or to clean up afterwards; or invite people just for appetizers.
- "I'd very much like to spend time with you on the holidays, but taking your father out of the house is too stressful for both of us. I'd much prefer it if you would come here, but I can't handle cooking and clean up. Would you be willing to bring the meal and serve it here? I know this is not what you might choose and it is a change, but things are changing now due to your father's illness and my caregiving responsibilities."
Caregivers need not feel guilty about putting their own needs first during Christmas. It is essential for caregiver and patient to maintain holiday health. This involves doing whatever is necessary physically, emotionally and spiritually.
 |
