Five More Gift Ideas for Caregivers
While often very rewarding, caregiving can be an incredibly daunting task. Many caregivers are well aware that self-care should be a priority, yet finding not only the time but the energy for that is another story.
Not only is caregiving physically and mentally exhausting, for many it’s also lonely with deep feelings of isolation.
Did you miss our first list of gifts for caregivers? No problem. Click HERE to see that list, with five other caregiver gift ideas.
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Set a regular date
Caregivers can get lonely, especially those that become homebound with their sick loved ones.
Just like others, scrolling through social media can end up producing those comparison feelings, while daydreaming of being able to get out of the house.
I’ve personally gone weeks without seeing anyone and as busy as I keep myself with projects, it can sometimes get a bit depressing.
It’s really nice to have something to look forward to, especially the opportunity to be social and engage with others in real life!
People ‘get it’ much more now that we’ve all endured months of COVID restrictions. If you know a caregiver, schedule a regular date with them. It makes them feel like a part of the world that’s spinning around them, and again…something to look forward to and get excited about!
If the caregiver isn’t able to meet out, maybe swing by on the first Friday of the month, or stop by on Saturday afternoons. A fun routine, versus answering countless alarms for meds, etc. is an exciting thought for a caregiver like me!
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Add Them to the Guest List (Or Bring the Party to Them)!
Don’t forget to add caregivers to the guest list! As Brian’s ALS progressed, we went out less and less, but it was still always nice to get an invitation to the party.
These days we rarely leave the house but I still like to see a notification pop up somewhere that says we’ve been invited somewhere. It’s just nice for caregivers to feel included.
If you REALLY want to make someone feel included, how about this? Recently, a former co-worker had a birthday party at a restaurant. I received an invitation to the party and it felt so nice to be remembered and included.
I responded to the hostess (the birthday boy’s amazing wife) and let her know that I appreciated the invite and hated to miss it.
The evening of the party, an UberEats driver showed up at my door with food from the restaurant where the party was taking place. So, I got to eat fajitas at the same time the guests were eating the same thing.
SCORE!!!! That was a new one for this caregiver and such a great idea.
Click HERE for our first list of five caregiver gift ideas.
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Donate for respite care.
One of the worst parts of a serious or terminal illness is the cost of care. Be it prescriptions or equipment or home care, families often drain themselves financially while battling a debilitating disease.
For me to get a break, we pay for care out of pocket at $25 per hour. That adds up quick. Having respite care covered is a huge weight on a family, both financially, and mentally.Â
When caring for someone like Brian, with ALS, the demands on me are non-stop. There is forever an alarm going off for one thing or another. Medicines, feeding, bathroom breaks, the list goes on and on. It can often be hard to even think. Even when asleep, it’s my duty to be on guard in case something happens. Basically on call to save a life if needed. It’s exhausting!!!
Caregivers need quality breaks in order to care for themselves. Paying for respite care is a huge gift for families caring for a loved one. Donate directly to the family or ask about sending payment to the nurse or home care agency for respite care.
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Lawn Care
As much as I love to work in my own yard, and as therapeutic as it can be, in the summer months there is often a bit more than I can handle.
It’s always nice to have help in the yard. Cutting the grass is the toughest thing for me. I don’t mind doing it but trying to keep an eye on Brian at the same time can be tough.
One of the greatest gift we’ve received has been the gift of lawn care. We pay what we can and we have been so lucky in that our lawn care service has donated one cutting per month. Once they leaned of our situation, they came to us with that offer.Â
I used to enjoy cutting the grass but with all on my caregiving plate, it’s so nice not to have to worry about cutting the grass, which also gives me the time (and energy) for the things outside I can enjoy more, like growing flowers and keeping bees!
For the caregiver in your life, consider paying for a lawn care service, or load up a gang of folks and make a day of it, helping tidy up around the yard.
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Donate to the cause.
If someone in your life has been a caregiver for some time, you just might be completely out of ideas, as you’ve already given them everything on this list. (And from the first list……)
Or maybe your caregiver insists there is nothing they need or want, and all other bases are covered.
Donate to the cause. What illness (or illnesses) is the caregiver caring for? Consider making a donation to an organization that’s along in the same fight?
For ALS, here are a few organizations we love to see donations go to:
FACT (Families & Communities Together)
Depending on the illness or ailment, perhaps just hop online and find out what organizations are doing the most for patients directly. You can also ask the family what their preference is for a local charity.
Sadly, organizations can often mishandle donations so do your research before giving to any organization, whether they are non or for profit.
Other ideas?
Got a great idea for a caregiver? We’d love to hear it! Email us at team@strengthoflove.org. We’re always looking for new ideas for us and to share! (If we share your idea, we’ll give you credit too!)
