Tips For Caregivers To Make The Holiday Season Less Stressful
If you are caring for a loved one with a neurodegenerative disease, you might be finding this holiday season very stressful. Alzheimer’s, dementias, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease can make someone need full-time care. That leaves no breaks for the caregiver. Adding more stress to an already hectic time of year.
Kat Hartley, Program Manager at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, recently shared her tips on Talking Solutions for those in these circumstances. Disappointment felt by caregivers and a feeling of loss around the holidays are a normal reaction, says Kat. It is important for those who feel this to give themselves the space to do so without judgment. There is a certain grieving process that naturally might occur before one can settle into acceptance for their situation.
Kat also shared tips for caregivers to implement to make holidays less stressful on themselves and those they are caring for. Keeping a positive mindset is one. Letting go of the need for perfection is another. Kat suggests caregivers keep the holidays as simple as possible. And invites others to adopt her “Triple AAA” mindfulness strategy:
- Acceptance – Of what the situation is and how it might not compare to what the caregiver envisioned for this time in their lives.
- Allowance – Space to allow the reality of what is to settle in.
- Affirmations – Positive self-talk every day to help keep a healthy perspective in the tough times.
Creating joy in the activities with loved ones is another tip Kat shared that could help with the stressful times. Focusing more on the doing rather than the outcome, and accepting the outcome might not be perfect, is a healthy approach for caregivers.
Kat also had great ideas for caregivers to practice self-care, and explained why it’s so important for caregivers to do so.
To get more information about the Cleveland Clinic, visit their website. The original air date for this podcast was December 18, 2022.
