5 Simple Things You Can Do To Show Caregivers Some Love

The fact that Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away prompted us to write this post to remind our readers that caregivers, not just the loved ones they care for, deserve and need ongoing/regular love and support. Not, just during the month of February, of course, but all year long!

We’ve drawn from our own experiences, as well as those of others who’ve served in a caregiving role, to provide you with some simple ideas to show some love and offer support to anyone in your circle who is a caregiver.

1.  Regularly ask how the caregiver vs. the recipient of their care is doing. Friends and family members of caregivers and/or their charge may be good about checking in to see how an elderly individual or disabled individual who is the recipient of the caregivers’ help and support is faring. But, many forget to check in on the caregiver. Next time you are chatting with a caregiver, don’t forget to ask, “And, how are you doing?"

2. Send a “thinking of you” e-mail, text, private message via social media, a snail mail card, or small gift to the caregiver. For a caregiver, simply having a friend or family member recognize how challenging and taxing caregiving is very meaningful and beneficial. Knowing you are thought of can make a caregiver feel far less isolated and alone. Sending a pampering gift like hand-made soaps, special hand lotion, or a book reminds the caregiver to take time to care for themselves.

3. Ask if you can bring a meal by or have it delivered. Whether they be take-out or home-cooked meals, giving a caregiver a day or night off from worrying about and cooking a meal for themselves and the loved one they care for, is a priceless gift. Be sure to ask ahead of time what dietary restrictions your caregiver and their loved ones have. Depending on the caregivers’ ability to easily and frequently access e-mail, you could also have a gift card sent to their e-mail address from a local restaurant, a food delivery service, or a local grocery store.

4. Share a list of chores, tasks, or errands you could complete for them. We’ve experienced, and others have shared the same – often caregivers don’t feel comfortable asking for help, assigning tasks, or responding to general statements such as “let us know how we can help." So, instead compile and share with the caregiver you want to help, the specific tasks you’d be glad to help with, such as:

   1. Going to the grocery store or arranging for groceries to be delivered.

   2. Getting a package they need mailed to the Post Office or UPS.

   3. Doing some yardwork such as raking or gardening.

   4. Folding and putting away laundry, or vacuuming, dusting, or washing dishes.

5. Provide an opportunity for the caregiver to “breathe,” i.e., to just worry about and take care of themselves. Depending on the extent of the physical disabilities or mental disabilities a caregiver’s charge lives with, it may or may not be possible for you to stay with the senior or disabled individual they care for while the caregiver runs an errand, or does something enjoyable like go to a movie or for a walk. In some instances, it may even be possible for you to take the individual who is the recipient of the caregiver’s care out somewhere so that the caregiver can have some time to themselves at home. If the situation demands the caregiver be available to help at any moment, you could ask if you could visit with their charge in one part of their home or yard, while the caregiver has time to do whatever he or she pleases in some other part of the home or yard.

PROVIDING CAREGIVERS WITH PEACE OF MIND IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PRIORITIES AND WE’RE HERE TO HELP

The team of aging in place experts and durable medical specialists at Lift & Care Systems has been helping seniors and their families/caregivers related to aging in place in MA, CT, and RI for more than 20 years. Our skilled team can install and teach you how to correctly use one or several of the following types of products that help both seniors and disabled individuals enjoy more freedom/independence and a higher quality of life: ceiling lifts, body support & slings, staircase lift chairs, wheelchair ramps, bathroom safety for seniors, mobile lifts, pool lifts, vertical platform lifts, accessible showers, wall-to-wall patient lifts.

Contact us today for a free consultation about how we can help you and your loved one related to accessibility and safety durable medical equipment (DME) needs.