It’s fun to receive gifts during the holidays, whether they’re from your child, spouse or coworker. But family caregivers oftentimes get overlooked, even though caregiving during the holidays can be even more stressful and exhausting than at any other time of year. If you have someone in your family who’s a caregiver for an aging in place relative, or you’re a senior who’s the care recipient, show that special someone your appreciation this holiday season with a thoughtful gift. To help simplify your search, here are 5 great gift ideas for senior caregivers.

1. Spa Gift Card

Most caregivers are so busy trying to meet everyone else’s needs that they forget to take care of themselves. What’s more relaxing than getting pampered for the day at a local spa? Buy yours a spa gift card and then arrange for a fill-in caregiver to step in while they go off and get a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure. Not only will a spa day help keep your regular caregiver recharged and refreshed, it will show them just how much you appreciate their year-around efforts.

2. Tickets to Entertainment Events

Find out who some of their favorite artists, entertainers or sports teams are, and then surprise them with tickets to an upcoming movie, concert, theater performance or sporting event. Or, buy your caregiver a gift card to their preferred restaurant so that they can then spend some quality time enjoying a free meal with their spouse or close friend.

3. TV Streaming Subscription

One of the best ways for a caregiver to unwind is to relax on the couch on a cold winter Sunday afternoon and binge-watch their favorite TV shows. Bring a smile to your caregiver’s face by giving them a subscription to a TV streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime or Disney. That way they can conveniently view their “can’t miss” programs after their caregiving and parental duties are over for the day. If they are avid readers instead of TV viewers, another idea is getting them a Kindle gift card or some books.

4. Gym Membership

Because regular exercise is a great way for family caregivers to decompress while warding off caregiver fatigue, buy yours a gym membership. Studies have found that working out 3 to 5 times a week doing Yoga, Tai Chi, swimming, bicycling or other similar activities provides caregivers with these benefits:

  • Strengthens their immune system
  • Relieves stress
  • Burns calories
  • Helps them sleep soundly
  • Improves balance and coordination
  • Builds muscle strength and joint flexibility
  • Promotes social interaction that may lead to new friendships

5. Hire a Respite Caregiver

It’s sometimes a real challenge for a family caregiver to find a trustworthy and honest replacement if they need to take a break or fall ill. Give your loved one the gift of some time off by hiring a professional respite caregiver from a licensed home care agency. If you’re not sure how to get started, here are some good resources for families who are searching for a reputable in-home senior caregiver:

  • Local Agency on Aging
  • Medical professionals that are familiar with your loved one’s health history
  • Home care and home health registries
  • Referrals from family members, neighbors, friends and coworkers
  • Client reviews posted online

When screening potential caregivers, always make sure to interview them first, and try to find an honest individual with similar personality traits to those of your loved one.

We Provide In-Home Respite Care to Alabama Seniors

Searching for a trustworthy respite caregiver for an aging in place senior can be confusing with all the choices out there. At Seniors Prefer Homecare, we’ve simplified the process by being a fully licensed and insured home care agency in Alabama with positive client reviews that carefully screens all our respite caregivers beforehand. While serving as an extended family in your loved one’s home, our well-trained aides can deliver services like light housekeeping, personal hygiene, medication reminders, meals, companionship and escorted transportation.

And, all our family trusted home care amenities can be individually combined into an affordable package when and where you need them! To learn more about Seniors Prefer Homecare now, or to schedule a FREE, in-home consultation for a senior in Tuscaloosa or Huntsville, AL, today, please visit us at: www.seniorspreferhomecare.com.