Caregivers for people with Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease often must deal with a high degree of stress and a great lack of time to get everything done. We recommend that if you know someone who is caring for a loved one with one of these diseases, give them a break on Valentine’s Day! Think about giving the caregiver one of these Valentine’s Day gifts:
- A night on the town: You can give the caregiver a pair of tickets to the movies, a concert or ballet. Take care of the Parkinson’s patient for the caregiver that night so that she can go out and have fun. When you are a caregiver for the longer term, having some time off without having to worry about the patient can really be a wonderful gift!
- Give a gift card: Who doesn’t like to go shopping, especially when you don’t have to pay for it? There are so many options for gift cards today. Whether you buy one online or purchase one of the many at the grocery check outs, you can surely find a gift card that will mean a lot to your caregiver. If you want to do something that goes beyond a restaurant or shopping, you also can sometimes contact small companies to pre-pay for services that the caregiver needs. House cleaning, lawn care and meal preparation companies are good choices.
- Service: One of the things that a caregiver values most is time to him or herself. You can volunteer to take care of the Parkinson’s patient for a few hours per week, cook their meals, help drive them where they need to go or lend a hand with household chores. Whatever you decide to do, you can make up your own personal gift certificate and give it to the caregiver. They will be thrilled to be given the gift of some relaxation time!
- Parkinson’s products: There are many helpful supplies that caregivers can use for help with the patient. Please ask your friend or loved one what they might need to make caregiving easier. There are many helpful products available – from bathing and grooming supplies to dressing aids to products for the bathroom.
Caregiver Tips – Ask for Help!
Few people can take care of someone with Parkinson’s disease without some help. Below are some tips on how to ask friends and family for help in caregiving:
- Make your request in a positive and gentle way, so that the people you are asking feel you are an ally. If you come across in a negative way, they may get defensive and the result will not probably be something that you want.
- Some family members live far away and do not think they can help. However, people who live at a distance can still help you. They can handle finances, make phone calls to doctors and lawyers, research medical problems, make calls for various service requests, and hire help for you if they have the funds to do so.
- People who live nearby can pitch in by making meals, picking up prescriptions, and of course taking care of the patient so you can have some time off.
