I remember many Christmas times as a young child with my parents and grandparents around the Christmas Tree at home. They were simple times when we would open a few presents, share a Christmas meal and spend time with each other. I enjoyed those times and when I was young, I felt that these times would last forever – but they didn’t. As I grew older, my parents and grandparents grew older too!
Sometime during my teenage years, my Grandma developed Alzheimer’s – referred to as “hardening of the arteries” back then. Grandpa did everything possible to keep Grandma at home, while continuing to work in the family business. He was able to keep her home for a long time, but eventually moved Grandma to a Nursing Home. I have a distinct memory of spending the last 2 Christmas seasons of Grandma’s life – visiting her at her “new home”. These Christmas times were very different from the earlier Christmas events when the whole family was gathered together at home.
Family is #1
The important takeaway for me is that the family was still together – we were not together at home, but we were together at the Nursing Home. The place didn’t matter as much as the emotions we experienced during those times. We were together as a family and felt that bond. Some part of me believes that Grandma felt that bond and part of her was there too.
Many of you are spending this Christmas helping those you Love. You Loved One may be struggling and you may also be struggling as well – struggling to help them get the best care possible. Whether this care is being provided at home or in a facility, the important thing is to be there with them and to share your love.
It is so difficult to get so caught up in the difficulties of providing or managing care for your Loved One, that it is almost impossible to take just a minute and get your bearings.
This Christmas season, I would encourage you to:
- Take a Deep Breath (or two). Try to clear your mind. Maybe try to say a quick prayer.
- Reflect on one good Christmas memory that you experienced with the one you love.
- What can you do today to bring just a little of that Christmas feeling back in your life and the life of your Loved One?
Question for the day:
What Christmas memories were most meaningful to you? What about those times evoke the greatest pleasurable emotions for you? If you do the above, you may discover that one of your favorite Christmas times with your Loved One is the time that you get to spend with them today. Please let us know in the comments section below.
We want to be friends!
Ok. That might come off a little fast, but you can trust us. We want to help! We fully understand the stress and turmoil that you are facing as Family Caregiver – including personal experiences with burnout.
In our time as caregivers, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge that we desire to pass on. We understand the emotions involved while making necessary preplanning and caregiving decisions. Likewise, we have met many professional caregivers (like Alzheimer’s Caregiver Phil Smith), as well as other family members who were thrust as Family Caregiver. All caregivers have shared the same advice – Join a community! There is nothing more cleansing for our situation than knowing that we are not alone!
We have since created Caregiver Connection. Caregiver Connection is a newsletter that we write personally and send to fellow Caregivers. It is full of tips, tricks, direction and even professional advice. If you would like to sign up, click the button below.
Please Invite Someone to Our Newsletter
Being an Adult Kid who is helping mom as she is declining can be a scary, frustrating and lonely place lacking stability. You feel like you are solely responsible for solving Mom’s problems while managing yours. Some occasional input and a community you can trust would help, especially when facing burnout! This is a way that all of us can be working together as caregivers!
Many others that you may personally know are having to figure it all out by themselves. Most of them have no community. Please take a minute and do them a favor. Copy this link ~> help.mom/cc <~ and send it to them in an email or private message. They can click on it and subscribe to our newsletter for free.
Then they can enjoy weekly tips and encouragement. They no longer have to feel so alone in their family caregiver journey. They will appreciate the favor! Thank you for thinking of them!
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