Read some easy tips and information for carers to help your client enjoy the festivities this year.
Christmas isn’t far away now, and whilst this time of year can make us all feel thankful for all we have, it can also be a tricky time of the year for the elderly.
Lots of elderly people feel lonely at Christmas, or struggle with the memories and emotions involved in being reminded of those who are no longer with us.
If you are caring for an elderly person at Christmas, you’re already helping them by just being there for them. 350,000 people spend Christmas alone and elderly people make up a large portion of those people.
On top of loneliness, those with dementia or who have had a stroke may also struggle with the commotion, noise and change of routine at Christmas, adding even more stress to this time of year.
As a carer you can have a huge influence over the kind of Christmas your client has. You can not only help them cope, but you can help their family accommodate their needs, and you can find ways for them to enjoy Christmas too. Need some help and inspiration? Take a look at these top tips for helping your client enjoy the holiday season:
Be Creative
From planning innovative ways for your client to get out shopping with mobility issues or dementia, to working around memory issues and stroke recovery alongside all the Christmas plans your client has, your creativity, skill and experience can be applied constantly at Christmas. Be creative and think around any potential hurdles so that your client continues to feel able and independent, regardless of their physical or mental health.
Do A Risk Assessment
It sounds a little like project management and your client certainly isn’t a project, but, risk management is actually an important way to help your client enjoy Christmas. Consider all the potential risks to their physical and emotional health so you can prepare in advance for those problems. For example: if they have dementia they may find the shops full of people and Christmas songs really difficult. To avoid your client feeling distressed, book Christmas shopping in before December and during the quietest times in the shops, or help them shop online. And remember, according to research by The Live-in Care Hub, having a live-in carer means that older people will enjoy better physical and emotional health than if they were in a care home.
Celebrate Those Who Are No Longer With Us
Grief is totally normal and elderly people can struggle with having lots of grief for lots of people who are no longer around. Christmas is a real trigger for grief because it is so emotive. Allowing your client to feel grief and sadness is important, but so is helping them celebrate the lives of those who are no longer here; continuing the bond with those we have lost could help your client.
Keep Them In Touch With Family And Friends
Whether you set up a Skype call, a Facebook chat, phone call or family gathering for your client, helping them keep in touch with family and friends at Christmas is so important. It will help them maintain the connections they do have, reminding them that they are loved and important to others.
Keep The Routine
To your client, Christmas might seem chaotic, stressful and difficult to deal with. If you can be the person who keeps the routine, who is fully on top of shop openings and medication schedules and who keeps the home a calm sanctuary they can feel safe in, then you will help them tremendously.
Make Even More Difference And Become An At-Home Carer
If you currently work as a carer in a care home, or you provide assisted living services but wish you could fully dedicate your skills to a client, then at-home care could be a great job for you. Home care jobs are incredibly rewarding, and make a difference to a client all year round. There are some great benefits for both you and the clients you work with so why not look into it as a career choice and get in touch with a home care agency today? It could be the best decision you ever make.
