If you are hosting Thanksgiving for your family or have in the past, you know how much work it can be to prepare! It can especially be stressful if you are also a caregiver to a senior loved one. Instead of trying to take it all on by yourself, why not take the opportunity to get your senior parent involved in the preparations? If mom or dad used to host Thanksgiving dinner, they might love the opportunity to get involved again. Here are some ways to do this from our assisted living coordinators at United Methodist Communities Collingswood. We’ll also include some Thanksgiving survival tips for caregivers.
Modify old
traditions. We understand
that mom or dad may have some limitations these days when it comes to their
health and mobility, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be a part of the
celebration! Assess what they are capable of and make modifications to the
traditions your family follows accordingly. For example, if your senior parent
has a little trouble moving around, give them a task to do while they’re
sitting comfortably at the table. They could fold the fancy cloth napkins you
put out every year, season and breadcrumb the sweet potatoes, or create a
beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Create new
traditions. Maybe dad
used to get the family together every year to play a game of football before
Thanksgiving dinner. If he’s not as mobile as he once was, it’s time to think
about incorporating some new traditions. To keep it in the sports realm, have
your family watch the football game safely in the living room and place some
friendly bets on the winning team. Another option is to get everyone excited
for the holiday season by initiating a new gift-giving activity. Have your
senior parent write down the names of every family member that would like to
participate in a “Secret Santa.” Each person will then pick a name and keep it
a secret until everyone gets together again during Christmas time to exchange
gifts.
Caregiving tips during Thanksgiving
- Prepare a routine for your senior parent. We all thrive on a schedule,
especially older adults who may be a little stuck in their ways. Since
your senior parent may feel out of their element on Thanksgiving, it could
be beneficial to prepare a schedule ahead of time for them to follow
throughout the holiday weekend.
- Ask for help from your family. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it
definitely wasn’t built alone. Since you will most likely be spending this
holiday with family, reach out well before Thanksgiving and ask for some
assistance with mom or dad.
- Take extra time for yourself. Breaks are essential to being a good
caregiver. When the holiday preparations become too much, step back, reach
out for caregiving help from family or an assisted living provider and
take that much-needed time for yourself.
- Prepare a custom meal for them ahead of
time. Oftentimes
seniors have special dietary needs due to taste changes and problems
chewing. To make things easier for them (and yourself) prepare a special
meal for them ahead of schedule, so they will enjoy their food during
Thanksgiving.
Celebrate Thanksgiving at UMC in Collingswood, NJ
If mom or dad doesn’t
feel comfortable leaving assisted living for the holiday weekend, bring
Thanksgiving to them! At UMC, we always encourage visitation from family and
will have some fun activities planned on-site during this time. Our specialized
caregivers are also available around the clock to assist you and your senior
parent, ensuring everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday visit.
To find out more about
our Thanksgiving activities for seniors
in Camden County, please contact us today or visit our website at: https://collingswood.umcommunities.org/
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