7 Ways to Show Your Appreciation for a Family Caregiver
There are more than eight million ‘unpaid’ or family caregivers across Canada who provide care to family members or friends with long-term health concerns. They are sons, daughters, spouses, grandparents, neighbours and friends who run errands, manage medications, drive loved ones to appointments, cook and clean, provide companionship and so much more.
Although caring for a loved one can be very meaningful and rewarding, at times it can also feel like a thankless job. Many family caregivers support their aging or ill loved ones while also juggling their own personal and professional responsibilities. This can take a significant toll on their finances, relationships, health and well-being. If you have a family caregiver in your life, taking the time to acknowledge their hard work and care can have a big impact. Here are some meaningful ways to show your appreciation:
Say Thank You
When life gets busy, we can sometimes forget to say ‘thank you’ for routine or everyday things. Two words really can change a caregiver’s day and help them feel more seen and valued. Thank a family caregiver for being compassionate and patient, for keeping everyone updated on their loved one’s health, or for ensuring the person in their care can remain independent at home.
Write a Note
With so many technologies available, a handwritten thank you card has a personal touch that can’t be replaced—especially one that arrives in the mail. To make your note more meaningful, thank the caregiver in your life for the unique and loving ways that they provide care. This could be how they style their loved ones’ hair, how delicious their chicken soup tastes or the way their positive attitude brightens everyone’s day. A written note is also something a caregiver can hold onto and pull out on a particularly difficult day.
Provide Nourishment
Caregivers often struggle to find the time and energy to cook a delicious and nutritious meal for themselves. Take away the stress of cooking and cleaning—even just for one night. Give your family caregiver a gift card to their favourite restaurant or meal service, prepare some freezer-friendly dinners or buy and package fresh ingredients into a box, with instructions, for an easy meal.
Do Something Together
Caregivers are known to sacrifice many of the things they enjoyed before they started providing care. They often have limited free time and can feel overwhelmed or guilty when they do step away from their caregiving role. To show your appreciation and help with feelings of loneliness and isolation, organize an event with all the details taken care of. Plan an afternoon at the movie theatre, buy two tickets to the orchestra with a dinner reservation, or try a yoga class followed by a healthy smoothie. Recruit a family member, friend or personal support worker to assist so the caregiver can relax knowing that their loved one is safe in their absence.
Lighten Their Load
Many caregivers feel like there are never enough hours in the day. Take something off of their plate by being specific about how and when you can help. Offer to do a grocery run, pick up the kids from school, do some laundry, or take the dog for a walk. You can also take over caregiving duties for the afternoon, or hire a professional caregiver or another family member, so the caregiver can have some time to themselves to take care of a personal task or have some time to rest.
Encourage Self-Care
Caregivers spend so much time taking care of others that they notoriously neglect their own needs. Everyone’s definition of self-care is different so try to get a sense of what they enjoy doing to unwind. Perhaps they would appreciate a gift certificate to a spa or their favourite bookstore, a massage appointment, a care package filled with soothing teas, facial masks and a magazine, new gardening tools, or a subscription to an online fitness app. Remind the caregiver in your life that their own health is directly linked to their ability to care for others.
Just Listen
Caregivers are used to everyone asking how the person in their care is doing, without checking in on the caregiver themselves. One of the best ways to show your gratitude is to be available to listen to their concerns, frustrations and experiences. Pick up the phone, send a text or pop by to ask them directly and keep checking in so they know you are thinking of them.
Acknowledging a caregiver and their vital role can go a long way. Keep these ideas in mind to help the caregiver in your life feel more valued and appreciated and to make their day a little bit easier.
VHA Home HealthCare offers a wide range of home care services to help make caregiving more manageable. Contact VHA’s Enterprise Health Solutions team at 416-489-2500 ext. 4649 or by email at ehs@vha.ca for more information on the services available for purchase.
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