The senior citizen’s guide to heart health
January 28, 2025Caring for the caregivers is so important, as this job can be wonderful and meaningful – but also challenging and lonely.
And if it is a prolonged thing, caregivers can get burned out. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, a caregiver is an unpaid individual (usually a family member) who helps someone who is elderly or ill with daily tasks and medical care.
In the U.S., there are more than 43 million caregivers and the majority care for one other adult.
So, how to show some love to caregivers in your life? There are some fun and easy ways to shower them with a little extra caring. Here are a few things to consider.
Offer to help, but volunteer to do a task. Clean up the house, rake leaves or remove snow, drop off a meal or snacks – these are all great ways to do real tasks that people need to do. Generally, when you ask someone if they need help, they say no. So, offer to do something specific.
Listen to them. Sometimes, a calm, non-judgmental listening ear can make all the difference. Being a caregiver can be isolating, and a friend can help. Volunteering to take your caregiver friend or relative on a short outing for ice cream, a coffee or a walk outside is also a great way to show support.
Offer to sit with the person or patient they are being a caregiver for, so they can take a break. That way if your friend or relative needs to go to an appointment or run an errand, they have the freedom to do so.
Treat them with a surprise. As caregivers, they are often forgotten in the rush of taking care of others, so a little treat or surprise can go a long way to making them feel noticed and cared for themselves. It doesn’t have to be big! A card or a small treat is perfect.
If you are a caregiver, what are some things that helped support you on your journey? Let us know!
Abbington Assisted Living
At Abbington, our mission is to increase the independence and quality of life of each resident by providing care with respect, compassion and dignity in a safe, comfortable environment. Heart health is one issue of many for a long life. If you want to learn more about us or schedule a tour, contact us today.
