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Caregiving is growing as the senior population rises. It is estimated that 53 million people in the United States care for an elderly parent, spouse, or relative. Providing care to a senior takes monumental effort—and should ideally be rewarded with gratitude.
Caregivers may be either family members or dedicated professionals paid to provide ongoing or intermittent care to an aging adult. AARP estimates that 38 million family caregivers provide care to older parents, partners, and friends with chronic or disabling conditions.
Alongside family caregivers are professional caregivers. About 4.5 million professional caregivers provide care to the elderly at home, in residential care facilities, and hospitals. By 2028, the demand for professional caregivers is expected to increase due to the growing number of aging adults.
Whether seniors receive attentive care from a family caregiver or a professional, the attention, daily assistance, and advocacy they receive are invaluable. In fact, no one can put a dollar value on caregiving. But aging care recipients can show gratitude, like in the following 12 ways.
1. Cook Their Favorite Meal
Good food is appreciated by all. Upon receiving care over time, seniors learn their caregiver’s favorite dishes, whether a sweet strawberry tart or roasted potatoes. Preparing a caregiver’s favorite food and savoring it with them shows the former how much their services are valued.
2. Treat Them at a Restaurant
Older care recipients who are no longer able to cook due to a health condition can still leverage the comforting power of food. Take the caregiver out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a local diner, bistro, or café to show appreciation for their ongoing care.
3. Write a Thank You Note
Give a handwritten thank you note expressing heartfelt appreciation for the daily support and attention the caregiver provides. Meaningful thoughts expressed on paper can leave a lasting impact on the caregiver. Plus, it becomes a valued keepsake to be read over and over.
4. Gift a Self-Care Basket
Fill a basket with self-care items, like scented lotions, fragrant oils, bath bombs, and fluffy towels. Add a big bow and gift the self-care basket to the caregiver, along with a thank you note, to show them gratitude and gently remind them to practice self-care.
5. Give Back
An older adult may need extra support, but that does not mean they are unable to give back. A caregiver with an adult son or daughter in the military, for instance, may be moved when the senior volunteers to write letters to deployed members.
6. Be a Willing Care Recipient
Caring for a demanding senior only adds more stress on the caregiver’s plate. Rather than be difficult, elderly care recipients are encouraged to be as independent as is safely possible. Knowing their limitations, seniors can make a caregiver’s job easier.
7. Prepare for Visits
Older adults can show their long-distance caregivers plenty of gratitude by preparing for their visits. Prior to their arrival, write a to-do list of realistic items with which the senior needs assistance. By helping the caregivers “help,” aging care recipients make the most of their visits.
8. Listen
Listening to a caregiver speak about their life outside of their caregiving role is immensely appreciated. Seniors might initiate conversations about their hobbies or interests. By lending an ear, the elderly show their caregiver how important their well-being is to them.
9. Give a Gift Certificate
Seniors can give their favorite caregivers a gift certificate for a facial, massage, or manicure. Gift certificates are easy for older adults to order online—making a trip to the spa unnecessary. Instant gift cards can then be printed or emailed for convenient gift giving.
10. Make a Donation
A caregiver may feel passionate about a particular cause, such as hunger or animals. Seniors who learn what charities matter most to their caregiver can make a one-time or ongoing donation to the organization. It’s another gesture expressing gratitude for the caregiver’s efforts.
11. Provide a Recommendation
A professional caregiver benefits from positive recommendations. Seniors who receive quality care from a caregiver may wish to recommend the caregiver to their aging friends, neighbors, or relatives. Include details of the caregiver’s hard work, dedication, and their role in enhancing the senior’s well-being.
12. Write a Positive Review
If a professional caregiver works for a home care agency, leave a good review on their website. Positive reviews help the caregiver and agency attract new clients. Be sure to include how the caregiver’s attentiveness, skills, and personal qualities make a difference in the senior’s life.
Seniors can give thanks to caregivers in many other ways, too, like investing in their professional development or giving them a day off. A break from their duties gives the caregiver a chance to recharge, time to spend with their family, or engage in activities they enjoy.
Senior Home Care from Assisting Hands
Caregiving is tireless work, but recognizing a caregiver’s unwavering dedication and expressing gratitude creates a supportive environment for everyone. Older adults find such dedicated caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care. We promote the physical, social, and emotional health of seniors.
Our nationally recognized home care agency supports seniors in the comfort and familiarity of home. Professional caregivers are tasked with a comprehensive range of non-medical care services designed to keep seniors independent for as long as possible in their beloved communities.
Responsibilities include help with hygiene tasks, like bathing and toileting. We provide medication reminders, perform light housekeeping, and shop for groceries. Caregivers assess the home for fall risks and remove clutter and other hazards. We’re also trained in CPR and first aid.
In-home care options are flexible and varied. Families have access to compassionate Alzheimer’s or dementia care, overnight care, 24-hour care, live-in care, or respite care. We’ll customize an initial care plan that can be adjusted as care needs change over time.
Assisting Hands Home Care is the senior care agency of choice for the elderly living in Mansfield, TX | Burleson, TX | Waxahachie, TX | Cleburne, TX | Midlothian, TX, and the surrounding communities. Call us at (817) 592-8843 to schedule a free in-home consultation today to introduce a compatible caregiver into the senior’s life and enhance their overall well-being.
