Your presence can mean just as much as a present for an older person this Christmas
“All I want for Christmas is you,” goes the song and for many older people, the only gift they crave is one of companionship.
The chance to get together with our loved ones is very special but for some, Christmas gatherings are about more than deciding where to spend Christmas Day or whose turn it is to do the cooking! If a loved one is receiving care, a harmonious festive period with the family altogether may not be without its challenges. Maintaining care routines over Christmas can be complicated and disrupting.
If you are the carer, juggling between your usual care responsibilities and get-together may seem impossible and having sole responsibility for caring for your relative may mean you are bound to your home making visiting other family and friends tough.
You may need some extra support at this hectic time of year. There are plenty of care companies and agencies who can provide a helping hand. Perhaps you just need someone to pay your relative a visit, as little or as often can be arranged? A live-in carer will help in the home, offering round-the-clock care for them and peace of mind for you. Respite care offers short-term support. Christmas has many demands on everyone’s time and if you’re going away this may be an option.
Choosing a care home for respite for your relative over Christmas can offer some much-needed respite time for you too to enjoy a break from the demands of caring. It can provide the perfect break to allow you to continue caring refreshed and ready to go again afterwards.
With the help of a respite carer, you can feel like you have everything under control, even during this hectic time. The person receiving care will certainly benefit from this as well. Thanks to their respite carer, they’ll be able to stick to their routine, and can enjoy your company more than if you were juggling caring responsibilities and stressful last-minute Christmas tasks.
You’ll be able to make home a peaceful, safe and quiet place to be, and your relative will be able to spend Christmas in the place they know best, well looked after and close to the people they love.
