A Holiday Gathering for Family Caregivers

I was planning to write a post about family caregivers, our aging parents and/or relatives, and the many issues we might face during the hectic holiday season. In organizing my own thoughts and researching this topic, I found there are many excellent resources already available on the internet about this very subject. Instead of reinventing the wheel, I’ll point you to the ones I believe are most helpful.

So grab a cup of hot chocolate (or a hot toddy), sit back and browse through this gathering of sites:

• At MindingOurEldersBlogs.com, Carol Bradley Bursack writes about adult children visiting their aging parents and the “miracle transformation” that could occur in “Home for the Holidays: Be Prepared.”

• At AgingCare.com, Carol Bradley Bursack tackles family caregivers’ guilt about not fulfilling all family members’ expectations for the holidays. In “How Caregivers Can Stay Positive During the Holidays: Drop the Fantasy, Lose the Guilt” she stresses the point that caregivers need to accept where we are in life, and that it is absolutely OK to simplify things as a result.

• Paula Spencer of Caring.com gives advice about interacting with Golden Oldies who have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (she covers all stages), and the apprehension many of us feel about the upcoming holiday reunions in “Holi-Daze Made Happier: How to Hang Out With Someone Who Has Dementia.“

• Valarie D’Acquisto’s Pleasant Days for Elders blog has an article entitled “Wishing You and Your Elder a Pleasant Christmas Season” that reminds us our Golden Oldies run colder than most people and gives practical advice on how to insure they are warm and toasty during these winter months. She also includes a list of possible gift ideas for seniors at the holidays that can be referred to all year long.

• Caregiving.com founder, Denise Brown, offers an entire Holiday Survival Guide, which includes eight individual holiday articles on a wide-range of topics as well as an audio recording.

If you prefer to listen rather than read, you can load these five podcasts onto your iPod or mp3 player and listen while you’re on the go — recordings from the weekly “Ask Mr. Eldercare Show” at BlogTalkRadio.com. Martin Sabel, aka Mr. Eldercare, is the host who covers these holiday topics with his guests:

Home For The Holidays: Getting Ready To Visit Mom and Dad

What To Look For When Visiting Your Aging Parents Over The Holidays

Ask Mr. Eldercare About Aging Parents and The Holidays

Manage Holiday Caregiving Stress Before It Manages You

Before You Return Home for the Holidays, Do This

It is my hope that after reading or listening to these words of wisdom, you, your families and your aging loved ones will have a much less stressful and a far happier holiday season!

I like learning from you, too. What have you learned from your caregiving experience during the holidays?

Or please share other articles or resources about this topic in the comment section below. Thanks!